CONFIDENTIAL
014773
MDHIAN 2392
SPOKE OF THE FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES IN PYONGYANG
EARLIER THIS WEEK. HE HAS CONTINUED LATELY TO TAKE A LINE ON PARTY AUTHORITY AND DISCIPLINE THAT SHOULD MINIMISE HIS EXPOSURE TO ANY QUOTE CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH UNQUOTE NOW. HIS NEW-FOUND EMPHASIS ON THE NEED TO DO MORE FOR EDUCATION HAS BEEN PROVED ABUNDANTLY RIGHT.
7. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AFTER GORBACHEV'S VISIT ARE PERHAPS NOW SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY THAN BEFORE. ZHAO WOULD BE THE MOST OBVIOUS FOCUS OF SUCH MOVES. BUT IT IS PREMATURE TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD LEAVE HIM WORSE OFF AND/OR ELIMINATE REFORMING VOICES. A SOCIALIST COLLEAGUE HAS SUGGESTED THAT ON THE CONTRARY, THE LATEST EVIDENCE ONLY CONFIRMS THAT THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS WILL NOT BE SOLVED WITHOUT REFORM, AND THAT THIS MUST INCLUDE
THE SOME FURTHER ADVANCE IN POLITICAL DEBATE AND CONSULTATION IF INTELLECTUALS' SYMPATHY AND ENERGY FOR WHICH THERE CAN BE NC SUBSTITUTE IS TO BE HARNESSED TO THE TASK. THIS MAY SOUND OVER-ROSY BUT IS, AT LEAST, AN INTERESTING COUNTERPOINT TO THE PESSIMISM OF OBSERVERS FROM A DIFFERENT POLITICAL BACKGROUND.
8. WE SHALL SEND MORE REFLECTIVE COMMENT LATER.
DONALD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
FED
NEWS
INFO
PUSD
RESEARCH
ECD (E)
149
CONSULAR DEPT
COMED
EED
DISTRIBUTION
152
LEGAL ADV
ERD
ECONOMIC ADV
SPD
PS
PS/MR WALDEGRAVE
PS/MRS CHALKER
PAGE
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR RATFORD
3
CONFIDENTIAL
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