TNAG-2743-FCO40-3958-Visits-by-Commonwealth-officials--ministers-and-public-figur-1993 — Page 134

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2

4.

The Canadian and British Speakers apparently managed to turn the situation round but only to the extent that Mr Swaine could attend the plenary meeting next year if he

requested to. He would not be invited.

5.

I understand that Mr Marlow has called on Mr Swaine.

Mr Swaine will no doubt therefore be aware of the situation.

It would be helpful to know what his feelings are on the subject and helpful if Mr Ricketts, to whom I am copying this, had any means of confirming the accuracy of the Canadian account. If it is accurate, and providing Mr Swaine would see no objection, I am inclined to raise the matter with the Australian Consul-General, pointing out to her how oddly the attitude of the Australian Speaker sits with that of the Australian Foreign Minister and asking whether there is anything that the Australian Government can do to persuade the Australian Speaker to take a less hostile attitude to LegCo.

Lit. Ehnman

(W G Ehrman) Political Adviser

16 January 1993

c.c.

CS PS/GH

Mr Ricketts, HKD, F C O Mr Blunt, HC Canberra

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