CONFIDENTIAL
042027
MDHIAN 3455
CONFIDENTIAL
FM OTTAWA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 042
OF 22220OZ JANUARY 90
YOUR TELNO 96 TO MOSCOW: BILATERALS AT THE OPEN SKIES CONFERENCE
GRATEFUL CONFIRMATION THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE BILATERALS MENTIONED IN YOUR TUR, YOU WOULD BE CONTENT ALSO TO HAVE ONE WITH BAKER, SHOULD THE AMERICANS REQUEST THIS.
2. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD INFORMALLY THAT PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY WILL ACCEPT OUR REQUEST FOR A BILATERAL WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THIS IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MARGINS OF THE DINNER WHICH MULRONEY IS TO HOST ON 12 FEBRUARY: THE MOST LIKELY THING WILL BE FOR YOU TO HAVE 15-20 MINUTES WITH MULRONEY IN A PRIVATE ROOM BEFORE THE DINNER BEGINS. THE CANADIANS HAVE EMPHASISED THAT MULRONEY WILL NOT (NOT) ACCEPT MANY REQUESTS FOR BILATERALS: WE SHALL SEE: BUT, MEANWHILE, CANADIAN OFFICIALS ARE ANXIOUS THAT WE SHOULD NOT ADVERTISE THIS AGREEMENT TO SEE YOU.
3. THE BRIEFING WHICH WILL ALREADY HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE OPEN SKIES CONFERENCE SHOULD COVER MOST OF THE SUBJECTS (EAST/WEST, AID TO EASTERN EUROPE, THE TWO GERMANYS) WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE UPPERMOST IN MULRONEY'S MIND. HE WILL WELCOME YOUR PERSONAL ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE KEY PLAYERS IN EUROPE ARE LOOKING AT THE POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ISSUES.
4. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL ALSO IF YOU COULD SPEAK FRANKLY TO MULRONEY ABOUT HONG KONG, IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR RECENT VISIT AND OF THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND AT HOME. MULRONEY IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED
HARD JUST ABOUT UK POLICY ON VBPS, AND HIS OFFICIALS HAD TO WORK BEFORE CHRISTMAS TO DISSUADE HIM FROM SENDING WHAT WAS LIKELY TO BE AN ILL-CONSIDERED LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON THIS SUBJECT. HIS ATTITUDE ON IMMIGRATION TO CANADA HAS BEEN GENERALLY HELPFUL BUT THERE IS SO FAR NO GIVE ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF FINDING A WAY TO MAKE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION BEFORE RIGHT OF ABODE CAN BE GRANTED.
5.
DEFENSIVE BRIEFING WILL BE REQUIRED ON SOUTHERN AFRICA (THOUGH I WOULD NOT SUGGEST VOLUNTEERING THE SUBJECT, UNLESS SUBSTANTIAL NEW DEVELOPMENTS HAVE OCCURED) AND ON EC FISHERIES POLICY.
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