TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN MR TIM EGGAR MP,

LA

vol (178 Geraest

fan Il

PARLIAMENTARY

UNDER SECRETARY, AND MR GEORGE FOULKES MP, HELD AT THE FCO AT

1500 HOURS ON 17 OCTOBER 1988

Present:

Mr Tim Eggar MP

Mr P Morgan, SAMD

Mr R Makepeace, PS/Mr Eggar

Chile: Plebiscite

THED 243/S

нко

RECE

Mr George Foulkes MP 1988

ту

Я

1. In welcoming Mr Foulkes, Mr Eggar said he had already seen Mr Martin Brandon-Bravo MP and Mr Jacques Arnold MP, both of whom had been to Chile during the plebiscite. He had not yet seen Ms Dawn Primarolo MP but he understood she had had some misgivings about the conduct of the plebiscite. What were Mr Foulkes' views? Mr Foulkes said that Apainde had arranged for all four British MPS to watch the polling in Santiago. This did not seem entirely appropriate. They, therefore, made impromptu arrangements themselves to cover the polling on a wider basis. Ms Primarolo went to Temuco. Mr Brandon-Bravo accompanied a member of the British Embassy to Buin and Rancagua, while Mr Arnold and Mr Foulkes covered Santiago though they also took the opportunity to visit polling stations outside the city, in Buin and La Victoria. He understood the whole British Embassy staff had also observed the polling throughout Santiago and in some provinces.

Conduct of Polling

2. Mr Foulkes said the conduct of voting was technically sound and scrupulously fair. The ballot paper was interesting (there might be something the UK could learn from this). The count was fascinating to witness and the trouble was taken to call out the names of the few who had not turned up to vote, just in case they were in the vicinity, since voting is obligatory. The security forces had been very helpful to voters. He had had total access at all the polling stations visited. He still, however, had some misgivings about the "environmental" aspects of the campaign. Pinochet would have received less than 43% of the vote had it not been for pressures exerted on some voters, for example intimidation and bribery.

The Opposition

3.

Mr Eggar asked how he saw developments in the period ahead. What did the opposition intend to do? Mr Foulkes said he had been surprised by the way the opposition had cooperated. Lagos (PPD) had acted in a very statesmanlike manner. He and Aylwin (PDC) intended to work closely

CH5AAP

CONFIDENTIAL