CONFIDENTIAL
114425
MDT V 0625
SHE WAS NOW DETERMINED TO MAKE UP FOR THIS AND THE CITIBANK INVITATION HAD COME AT THE RIGHT TIME. PEKING WOULD, OF COURSE, BE FURIOUS AND THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR ALREADY HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE MRS THATCHER LATER THIS MONTH. HE WOULD BE LISTENED TO POLITELY BUT WOULD GET NOWHERE. MRS THATCHER WAS DETERMINED TO
COME: SHE HAD TAKEN ADVICE, INCLUDING FROM CHARLES POWELL IN HIS NEW ROLE AT JARDINE, MATHIESON'S, AND SAW NO OBSTACLE TO SUCH A VISIT.
5. SEYMOUR EXPLAINED THAT WHILST CITIBANK WERE MEETING ALL
COSTS CONNECTED WITH THE VISIT THEIR REQUIREMENTS OF MRS THATCHER WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO A DINNER ON THE FIRST NIGHT, IE. SUNDAY WHICH WOULD BE FOR A SMALL SELECTION OF THE ''GOOD AND THE GREAT'' OF TAIWAN, AND HER PRESENCE AT WHATEVER SEMINAR OR OTHER EVENT THEY HAD PLANNED FOR THE MONDAY. THEREAFTER, SHE WOULD BE FREE TO FOLLOW OTHER SUGGESTIONS, INCLUDING FROM THE TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO
BRITISH INTERESTS IN TAIWAN. HE HOPED VERY MUCH THAT THE ATTC WOULD PLAY A ROLE AND BE FULLY INVOLVED.
1
6.
I EXPLAINED THE BACKGROUND TO THE ATTC, ON WHICH HE HAD NO DOUBT ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED BY THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, AND SAID THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A NORMAL DIPLOMATIC POST, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER SUPPORT AND ADVICE OUR MEAGRE RESOURCES PERMITTED, AS WE WOULD FOR ANY VISITING FORMER PRIME MINISTER. IT SOON EMERGED THAT AT THE PRACTICAL LEVEL, EVERYTHING WAS LIKELY TO BE PROVIDED EITHER BY CITIBANK OR THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. HOWEVER, WE WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THESE AND BE INVITED TO COMMENT, INCLUDING ON THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, FOR WHICH A SPECIAL BRANCH OFFICER WOULD BE MAKING A RECCE VISIT. SEYMOUR UNDERTOOK TO LET ME HAVE DETAILS OF THIS. HE WOULD, IN PARTICULAR, BE LOOKING AT THE ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS T THE SHERWOOD HOTEL WHERE THE ENTIRE 19TH FLOOR WOULD BE RESERVED FOR
HER (SMALL) PARTY. THIS WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF
THE NATIONAL POLICE.
7.
WHAT SEYMOUR SAID HE WOULD PARTICULARLY WELCOME FROM US
WOULD BE GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT MRS THATCHER MIGHT DO THAT WOULD
HAVE A DISTINCTLY BRITISH ANGLE. HE SAID THAT HE HAD MET SOME OF
THE SENIOR U.K. BUSINESSMEN IN TAIPEI AND HAD FOUND THEM RATHER
CRITICAL OF THE FACT THAT MRS THATCHER WAS COMING HERE UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF A U.S. BANK. HE APPEARS TO HAVE DEALT WITH THIS QUITE FORMALLY ON THE GROUNDS THAT BRITISH COMPANIES IN GENERAL HAD SIMPLY FAILED TO USE MRS THATCHER IN THE HIGH-LEVEL PR MODE, AT
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.