m.pus.sos2
CONFIDENTIAL
This may be partly the ploy of a skilful campaigner; but it also suggests that, if the polls are right and Clinton wins next week, there is going to be a very long learning curve in the areas of most importance to us. On the other hand his instincts seem generally to be sound and he has given few hostages to fortune in a campaign in which opportunism might well have gained electoral points.
We shall be watching this closely and will make further recommendations about how to handle initial contacts with Clinton and his team if they win the election. We shall need to work hard to build up relations with them, but Sir R Renwick is anxious to avoid deluging them with advice across the board, which would be seen as patronising and be ill-received. Our approach will need to be very sensitive to this. Meanwhile, whatever happens on 3 November, President Bush remains in office at least until the Inauguration on 20 January.
I am sending copies of this letter to John Pitt-Brooke (Ministry of Defence), Jeremy Heywood (HM Treasury), Peter Smith (Department of Trade and Industry) and Melanie Leach (Cabinet Office).
CONFIDENTIAL
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