TNAG-1747-FCO40-2466-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 110

Private Secretary

HK BONF

47

л лай

27/04

27

From:

RJT McLaren

Date:

26 April 1988

cc:

Mr Gillmore

Mr Adams SEAD

Mr Hum, HKD

A

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

1. I attach an outline programme for the visit to the Philippines which draws on suggestions telegraphed by the Embassy in Manila and discussions with Mr MacInnes.

The operational content

has been concentrated on Friday 27 May and Saturday 28 May to allow the maximum time for a trip outside Manila on Sunday, 29 May.

2. The following comments may be helpful:

(i)

27 May: pm

(ii)

I have suggested that a meeting with Embassy staff might be held on the afternoon of arrival

(a) because it will be difficult to fit in such a

meeting on 28 May;

(b)

and

because Mr MacInnes attaches importance to the Secretary of State seeing the (very over-crowded and inadequate) Embassy offices.

28 May: am Two possible breakfast meetings are included. The Secretary of State may think that breakfast confined to Sir J Clark and Mr Cojuangco would be a little too detailed and narrowly focussed. It might be possible either to expand the breakfast or to include these two in the Ambassador's buffet dinner and arrange for the Secretary of State to take them aside at some point during it. I am rather more attracted by the idea of breakfast with the US Ambassador. He occupies something of a proconsular position in the Philippines and the Secretary of State may find it helpful to talk to him before seeing Mrs Aquino and Foreign Secretary Manglapus.

(iii) 28 May: am

The calls on President Aquino and Mr Manglapus are agreed but not the times. The Filipinos will have to do some juggling to fit in both the Secretary of State and Prime Minister Junejo who will be in town at the same time. The lunch by Manglapus is also agreed.

(iv)

CONFIDENTIAL