TNAG-2913-FCO40-4188-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1993 — Page 60

DRAFT

FROM:

PS

>

TO:

PS/No 10

CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER BY US AMBASSADOR SEITZ

Ambassador Seitz will call on the Prime Minister on

20 February to discuss the Prime Minister's visit to

Washington. Mr Seitz last called on 20 November.

Agenda for the Prime Minister's visit

The Prime Minister will wish to stress to Mr Seitz the

importance we attach to this first meeting with President Clinton. Apart from building a personal relationship, we see

the visit as an opportunity to frame the agenda for future

discussions. The Prime Minister may like to take Mr Seitz

through the agreed agenda for the talks (Washington telno 313,

enclosed). We shall be submitting full briefing on all these subjects on 22 February; but particular points which the Prime Minister may like to highlight to Mr Seitz are as follows.

Northern Ireland

We shall want to ensure that an announcement of a US

fact-finding mission to Northern Ireland does not emerge

either before or immediately after the Prime Minister's

meeting with President Clinton (Washington telno 344, also

enclosed). We would prefer it to be announced by the

Administration a week or so later. The Prime Minister will

wish to emphasise the importance that we attach to this

timing. Meanwhile we are in touch with the Americans about a

text which will not go down badly here. The Prime Minister

might say:

Understand that President Clinton intends to invite

Speaker Foley to lead a fact-finding mission to Northern Ireland. We attach importance to delaying the

announcement of this mission until a week or so after my

visit.

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