TNAG-2033-FCO40-2896-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 7

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CONFIDENTIAL

From: K C Walker

Date: 2 November 1990

Mr R A Burns

CC:

Mr McLaren o/r

Mr Hervey

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Williams, SAD Mr Colvin, SEAD

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS (RSAA)

1. In your minute of 31 October you asked for background on the RSAA. I attach:

a. a leaflet issued by the RSAA describing its aims and activities

a list of the Society's officers; and

C. a note of some important dates in the history of the Society.

2. The RSAA has a membership of about 1100. This includes quite a few serving members of the Diplomatic Service and many retired senior members of the Service. The FCO is an Affiliate Member.

3. The Society is involved with all parts of Asia and takes a close interest in the Middle East. The RSAA's last two tours were to Yemen and Xinjiang (including a visit to the old British Consulate at Kashgar). The Society's lectures and journal (edited by a retired member of the DS Research Cadre) are of a high standard.

4. The annual dinner is usually attended by several senior members of the Diplomatic Corps in London, as well as by the High Commissioner or Ambasador invited by the Council as guest speaker. The main speakers at the RSAA's dinner in 1989 were Lord Glenarthur and the then Indian High Commissioner, and in 1990 Lord Jenkin and the Pakistan High Commissioner. The Prince of Wales attended in 1987.

5. Ordinarily I would not suggest that there would be a strong case for accepting the Society's invitation, but in view of current Asian concerns the dinner would provide a good occasion for the Secretary of State to address these concerns. Although the dinner does not usually attract much publicity, I would expect there to be good press coverage of a speech by the Secretary of State if he should decide to accept the invitation.

SO1AAM

Manfolken

KC Walker

Far Eastern Section, RAD

CONFIDENTIAL