TNAG-2182-FCO40-3119-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 187

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of Soviet sovereign bases would make their presence more

palatable in, for instance, the Baltics. Mr Schori thought

that this could be open to discussion. Mrs Prunksiene had

already made a number of concessions. The Baltic States would be very frustrated if the Soviet Union did not do

something in response. Gorbachev's problem was knowing when to go ahead. Mr Schori said that Mr Ligachev was in Sweden studying economics. He appeared to be becoming economically

literate in Western terms. Mr Maude commented that the

command economy systems were disintegrating. Mr Schori noted that Mr Maude would shortly be seeing Professor Åslund

who was one of Sweden's leading experts on the Soviet Union. For his part he thought that Professor Åslund's views were too pessimistic. HM Ambassador said that he was grateful

for the opportunities which the Swedes gave to British

Government experts on Soviet and Eastern Europe, such as the

Head of Soviet Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth

Office, Simon Hemans, to visit Sweden for discussions.

DISTRIBUTION

PS

WED

PS/Mr Maude

EED

PS/Mr Waldegrave

CSCE Unit

PS/PUS

HKD

Mr Weston

FED

Mr Greenstock

Mr Kerr

Mr Tait

Mr Burns

Mr Goulden

Soviet Dept

ECD (E)

SEAD

Sec Pol Dept

Chancery Stockholm

P12AAC/9

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