TNAG-2031-FCO40-2894-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 98

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DEMONSTRATIONS DURING THE VISIT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WILLINGNESS TO MEET PRESSURE GROUPS WAS DESIGNED TO SHOW THAT HE HAD LISTENED PERSONALLY TO SOME OF THOSE DEMONSTRATING. THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN NOT CREATING A PERMANENT PRECEDENT THAT VISITING FCO MINISTERS ARE INVARIABLY EXPECTED TO HAVE SUCH MEETINGS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION DURING HIS VISIT AND WE CAN TRY TO ENSURE THAT PROMINENT FIGURES FROM THE VARIOUS GROUPS SEEKING MEETINGS ARE INCLUDED IN SOCIAL FUNCTIONS WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ATTENDS DURING HIS VISIT. ( A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE, IF THERE ARE CASES WHICH SEEM PARTICULARLY DESERVING, WOULD BE FOR MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PPS.) ON THIS BASIS WE ARE INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD NOT AGREE TO SEE THESE GROUPS IN SEPARATE MEETINGS.

4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO PROCEED ACCORDINGLY. WE WOULD THEN WRITE TO THOSE CONCERNED REGRETTING LACK OF TIME FOR A MEETING

AND ASKING THEM TO PUT THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING.

WILSON

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PROTOCOL

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PRIVATE SECRETARY

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

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