TNAG-1790-FCO40-2550-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1988 — Page 249

RESTRICTED COVERING CONFIDENTIAL

F

4.

Lord Glenarthur met the French Minister for the South

Pacific, Flosse, in London on 19 November. Bariani lead the

French delegation to the 1986 South Pacific Conference in Tahiti:

Suva's reporting indicated that he and his delegation "won high marks for arrogance and insensitivity". He may wish to talk about New Caledonia in general (and, probably, standard) terms.

Lord Glenarthur could respond by enquiring whether the new

statute for the territory is likely to be promulgated before the

French Presidential elections (April/May 1988). A background

brief is attached.

5. Mr Barrow of WED will take the note. An interpreter has been

arranged (Bariani speaks very little English). Bariani will be accompanied by the French Ambassador.

PARAAP

Gtfil

GH Fry

RESTRICTED COVERING CONFIDENTIAL