CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO
TELNO 116
OF 18180OZ FEBRUARY 91
HKB 02013.
TOP COPY Q DIST ? *
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, MODUK
AMBASSADOR
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM DAVIES, FED
FCO TELNO 115:
BURDENSHARING:
JAPANESE CONTRIBUTION
50
055263
MDHOAN 8057
A
1. THERE IS BACKGROUND TO THIS OF WHICH YOU SHOULD BE AWARE. VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CHINA HAS BEEN PENCILLED IN FOR 1-9 APRIL FOR SOME TIME. THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS RELUCTANT TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A VISIT TO CHINA UNLESS HE CAN SEE PRACTICAL RESULTS, BUT IS STILL KEEN TO GO TO HONG KONG. WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE DOUBTS ABOUT THE WISDOM OF A VISIT TO HONG KONG AND NOT PEKING WHEN THE CHINESE (FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS) ARE PROBABLY EXPECTING HIM TO INCLUDE PEKING. IN CONSIDERING OTHER POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS IN THE AREA, HOWEVER, WE HAVE SO FAR TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THERE WAS NO PRESSING NEED TO VISIT JAPAN FOR GENERAL BILATERAL REASONS. AND TO MAKE PLANS NOW FOR A VISIT FOR BURDENSHARING REASONS IN APRIL DOES NOT SEEM SENSIBLE GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE ARGUMENT APPEARS TO BE MOVING IN OUR DIRECTION. ON THE OTHER
HAND IT REMAINS A HIGH POLITICAL PRIORITY TO OBTAIN A SUBSTANTIAL JAPANESE CONTRIBUTION AND IF THE PROMISE OF A VISIT IN APRIL HELPED ACHIEVE THIS, I AM SURE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE GREATLY ATTRACTED. YOUR CONSIDERED VIEWS WILL THEREFORE CARRY GREAT WEIGHT, NOT LEAST IN THE CHINA HONG KONG EQUATION. A MEETING ON THE CHINA / HONG KONG VISIT WILL BE HELD ON THE MORNING OF 20 FEBRUARY. A REPLY BEFORE THEN WOULD BE HELPFUL.
HURD
YYYY
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