HKG 020 | 7
CONFIDENTIAL
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RECEIVED IN RE
12 JUN 1990
CALL ON SECRETARY OF STATE BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF SINGAPORE
T:DEX
4/60
Secretary of State
Lord Brabazon
Sir Michael Pike
Mr Burns
Mr Powell
Mr Gass
Wong Kan Seng, Foreign Minister Brigadier Yeo, Minister of State Mr Aziz, High Commissioner
Mr Mahbubani, Deputy Secretary, MFA
Miss Seetoh, Counsellor, High Commission
1. Foreign Minister said he wished to get a feel for developments
in Eastern Europe; to learn about Gorbachev; the future composition
of NATO; Western Europe's commitment of resources to Eastern Europe.
Soviet Union
2.
Secretary of State said that Gorbachev faced three main problems. the economy, the internal political situation and the developments in the Baltic republics. The economy continued to
suffer from the problems of mismanagement and poor distribution
which meant that food rotted whilst the Soviet Union failed to feed
its people properly. It was estimated that 40% of total food
production was lost. The West was beginning to discover that the
de-centralisation process was not making the Soviets the good payers
that they had been in the past. Foreign Minister asked whether West
would give aid. Secretary of State replied that there were good
people in the Soviet Union who could pull the country together.
3.
Secretary of State said that he believed large numbers might now
leave the Communist Party. There would be a period of confusion.
If the reforms went badly the Prime Minister and not President
Gorbachev be the fall guy. The President remained confident.
Mr Yeltsin remained the uncertain factor.
Ry Ms Marsden Ms Major
(par 8) W%
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