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Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH 5 December 1975 President Amin's Message 1* President Amin has sent the enclosed message to the Prime Minister congratulating him on HMG's devolution policies and passing congratulations to Mr Callaghan for his part in improving Anglo-Ugandan relations. President Amin has been a great supporter of Irish, Scottish and Welsh nationalism in the past, to the extent of promising support for the IRA and blaming the Scottish Nationa- list Party for not being nationalist enough. The terms of the present message are in marked and pleasant contrast to his previous pensees on regional policy within the United Kingdom. We hope that the Prime Minister will agree to send a short reply. Anglo-Ugandan relations have improved markedly since Mr Callaghan visited Kampala last July and President Amin has shown restraint over the publication of Mr Denis Hills' book, 'The White Pumpkin' , as well as over some unfavourable BBC comment on Ugandan policy from Nairobi and generally in his conduct of African affairs since becoming Chairman of the OAU. We are hoping to resume negotiations on compensation for British property expropriated in Uganda early in the New Year and President Amin has made it clear that he wishes to see real progress made at these resumed talks. He is, however, extremely volatile and might well take amiss a failure to reply to a note as warm as that which he has now sent. I attach a draft reply for the Prime Minister's consideration. fahiU t% (AM^^L*.^ /AJ * n/v? 1 ) // \ (R. N. Dales) P. R. H. Wright Esq. Private Secretary, No 10