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047716
MDH N 0563
COMMENT
3. A VERY FULL DAY OF TALKS. DESPITE THE CONSIDERABLE PRESSURES ON THE DEPLETED RANKS OF DFAT DEPUTY SECRETARIES, SMITH (ACTING SECRETARY) SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY AND EVENING WITH SIR JOHN COLES AND HIS TEAM. THE OTHER DEPUTY SECRETARY AVAILABLE JOINED US FOR LUNCH (THE THIRD DEPUTY SECRETARY (DUS) AND THE SECRETARY (PUS) ARE STILL ON THE SICK LIST). A CONSTANT FLOW OF AUSS AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENT
JOINED THE DISCUSSIONS AS APPROPRIATE. THE AUSTRALIANS BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO BE GOOD HOSTS AND BOTH DFAT AND THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS (ONA) GREATLY APPRECIATED SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS ON EASTERN
EUROPE AND THE FSU WITH MANNING.
4.
THE ATMOSPHERICS ON BILATERAL RELATIONS WERE GOOD. MARALINGA WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO HANDLE: IT WAS USEFUL THAT SIR JOHN COLES HAD THE
CHANCE TO DISCUSS THIS PERSONALLY WITH SENATOR EVANS. A SHARP NOTE
CREPT IN ON DISCUSSION OF FROZEN PENSIONS. WORK WILL BE NEEDED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF AUSTRALIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BILATERAL SOCIAL
SECURITY AGREEMENT IF THEY CARRY OUT THEIR THREAT. THEY DID NOT HOWEVER, SUGGEST THAT THEY WOULD RAISE THIS ISSUE IN CONCERT WITH THE CANADIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS AT CHOGM (ALTHOUGH THIS CANNOT BE RULED OUT). A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY CHOSE TO INCLUDE BRITISH ARMS
SALES TO THE REGION AS STILL WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL TRINITY OF
LONG-STANDING ISSUES BETWEEN US, BUT THEY MADE NO COMPLAINTS.
5. EXCHANGES ON ASIA WERE GOOD. PLENTY OF IDEAS IN A CREATIVE DISCUSSION. COVERAGE OF AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST WAS MORE CURSORY
AND COULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED WITHOUT GREAT PENALTY.
6. THE TALKS WENT WELL AND WERE VALUABLE. I AM GRATEFUL TO
SIR JOHN COLES AND HIS TEAM FOR SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO
THE SUCCESS OF THESE CONSULTATIONS AND FOR CARRYING OUT A FULL AND
USEFUL PROGRAMME OF CALLS AND ENGAGEMENTS THE DAY BEFORE (10 MAY).
BARDER
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