TNAG-1473-FCO40-2004-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 20

Embassy of the United States of America

Mr. Robert Rogers

Clerk to the Committee

House of Commons Defence Committee

House of Commons

London SW1

London September 10, 1986

Dear Robert:

I have been asked by Washington to pass to Sir Humphrey Atkins the following points regarding the Defence Committee's visit to the Pacific region in November.

We understand the Select Committee on Defence will be traveling to Oman in November.

We also understand that the Committee believes it has received an invitation from Secretary of the Navy John Lehman and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Crowe to travel on from Oman to visit Diego Garcia and subsequently to visit U.S. bases in the Pacific, including those in the Philippines.

We believe there has been a misunderstanding of some sort. Neither Secretary Lehman nor Admiral Crowe issued an invitation for such a tour of U.S. military facilities. Additionally, the U.S. Government cannot issue an invitation for UK nationals to visit Diego Garcia. The decicison for access by individual representatives of each government rests with that government.

We would note that for the U.S. Government, only members of the Executive branch with direct responsibility and those individual members of Congress involved in direct oversight of the military activities at the island are allowed to visit Diego Garcia.

In a June letter to Mr. Keith Speed the Secretary noted the Committee's desire to visit Diego Garcia, but pointed out that HMG was the controlling authority regarding access to the island and the FCO would have to grant permission for a visit there.

1