24-MAY-1990 12:10
BHC CANBERRA
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ATO ESCO
F.04
(a)
(e)
(£)
US approach a worry: Japanese concerned at Clinton administration's attitude. Sensible political relationship needed: economic difficulties should be settled in that framework.
Two Prime Ministers should discuss Japan and US-Japan relations in September (Mr Smith agreed).
Doubted EC-Japanese relations would develop in the same way as US-Japanese relations.
Indonesia
20.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(e)
(f)
21.
DFAT team said:
Bilateral relations excellent.
Australia tried to give Alatas support over human rights; preferred to avoid votes such as that at the CHR on East Timor.
Abri were beginning to see Western human rights values as a threat.
Agreed (with Sir J Coles) that Suarez was a major stumbling block over East Timor.
They expected Xanana's sentence within the next 2 weeks.
Soeharto would not abandon structural reform; Habibi was a wild-card.
Sir J Coles explained the improvement in Britain's export performance to Indonesia. Political relations were good. The Secretary of State got on well with Alatas. Defence Secretary would visit in late May.
Korea
22. Mr Blunt's teleletter to Mr Gordon-MacLeod (NPDD): Annex B.
Indian Sub-Continent
23. Sir J Coles explained the depth of UK-India bilateral relations: now the best since independence. Economic reform was crucial: the Prime Minister was persuaded that Mr Rao was dedicated to it. Kashmir was the most dangerous flash-point in Asia. urged a 3-point policy for both sides:
(a) Solve through bilateral dialogue.
HEMG
(2)
Stop external assistance to the Kashmiri militants.
(c)
Organise a political process and improve human rights in the region.
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