TNAG-2295-FCO40-3309-Possible-visit-by-the-Dalai-Lama-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 31

CONFIDENTIAL

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101045

MDHIAN 9119

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 250800Z F C O TELNO 1808

OF 250345Z OCTOBER 91

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PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS, FROM AMBASSADOR

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MY TELNO 1735: THE DALAI LAMA

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1. THE DEPARTMENT FAXED TO ME THE PRIVATE SECRETARY'S LETTER

OF 20 OCTOBER CONVEYING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ADVICE ON HOW THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD RESPOND TO LORD ENNAL'S INVITATION TO HIM TO MEET THE DALAI LAMA DURING HIS NEXT VISIT TO THE UK BETWEEN 30 NOVEMBER AND 3 DECEMBER.

2.

I AM QUOTED AS HAVING SAID THAT PROVIDED A MEETING BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE DALAI LAMA IS HANDLED IN THE WAYS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER, THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE ATMOSPHERE FOR LORD CAITHNESS'S VISIT TO CHINA NEED BE AFFECTED. THAT WAS INDEED MY ADVICE, BUT IT WAS CONDITIONAL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ON OUR KEEPING QUIET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE MEETING IS TO TAKE PLACE SHORTLY BEFOREHAND. THE ADVANTAGES OF FOLLOWING THIS COURSE ARE RECOGNISED IN THE LETTER, BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR GOOD DOMESTIC POLITICAL REASONS · IS THAT LORD ENNALS SHOULD BE TOLD OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION TO SEE THE DALAI LAMA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. THE NEWS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BECOME PUBLIC ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

3. IF THE PRIME MINISTER ACCEPTS THESE RECOMMENDATIONS (AND I REALISE HE MAY HAVE DONE SO BY NOW: I DID NOT RECEIVE THE DEPARTMENT'S FAX UNTIL 24 OCTOBER) THE CHINESE WILL HAVE UP TO A MONTH IN WHICH TO COMPLAIN AND REMONSTRATE. THEY ARE LIKELY TO DO SO FREQUENTLY AND AT INCREASINGLY SENIOR LEVELS, THE MORE SO BECAUSE OF THE DALAI'S ADVOCACY OF TIBETAN INDEPENDENCE. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, I CANNOT BE SURE THAT THE ATMOSPHERE FOR LORD CAITHNESS'S VISIT (WHICH WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN AUTHORISED TO PUT TO THE CHINESE FORMALLY) WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED OR INDEED THAT THE VISIT ITSELF WOULD NOT BE PUT IN JEOPARDY. ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE PRESS ASPECTS OF THE DALAI LAMA'S VISIT ARE HANDLED WITH RESTRAINT. IN PARTICULAR IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD

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