TNAG-1394-FCO40-1866-Future-of-Hong-Kong-interest-from-other-countries-1985 — Page 7

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CONFIDENTIAL

THE UK/FRENCH/FRG RELATIONSHIP

(First draft outline)

[The paper will start with a 1-2 page summary of its

purpose, analysis and conclusions, offering a guide

inter alia to the various annexes. The paper has a

three-part structure: the nature of the problem; the

case for action; practical circumstances and

objectives.]

I.

The Nature of the Problem

a) The structure

(formal consultative commitments

etc) and recent achievements of the Franco-German

axis. Its historical/psychological/political

background; its applications in the Community,

defence, industrial, popular etc fields. (Note

among other things that it is not an equal and

reciprocal relationship, but involves German

surrender to French interests in the great

majority of cases.) Refer to Annex A, a research

paper being prepared for a separate purpose by

Research Department and WED in consultation with

posts. [The main paper will not go into the

findings of the research exercise at length, but

rather draw attention to its chief features and

conclusions.]

CONFIDENTIAL

1