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& CONFIDENTIAL 4. Mr. Bula thought that it was important that from the airport Mr. Callaghan should go to the High Commission for a talk with Mr. Hennessy. This would be perfectly normal and would allow Mr. Callaghan to get a report of the situation on the ground, Mr. Callaghan referred to a telegram he had just received which suggested that the Ugandan Foreign and Home Affairs Ministers would come to the airport and would expect to have a preliminary discussion with him. Mr. Bula thought this would be a formal reception and purely a courtesy. 5. Mr. Callaghan reverted to the problem of President Amin's frequent change of mind. Mr. Bula said he understood Mr. Callaghan's scepticism. He thought that recent events had been the result of Amin's sensitivity to the British Press and to the admission of Ugandan refugees. Mr. Callaghan explained that no Ugandan had been given political asylum in Britain; those in Britain had been admitted under normal immigration arrangements. He remarked on his lack of control of the British Press. Mr. Bula said that all this had been explained to President Amin and there was no problem now. When Mr. Callaghan mentioned the bad treatment Mr. Hennessy had received at Amin's hands, Mr. Bula suggested that this was the sort of problem which should be left to the Zairians. It was important to forget the past. Mr. Callaghan emphasised that Britain had gone to the limit over the Hills case; there could be no repetition. 6. Mr. Bula asked if Britain was ready to restore normal relations with Uganda. Mr. Callaghan explained that he was not yet ready to have normal rela- tions with Uganda. The wounds had been too deep and time was now needed for them to recover. On the commercial side there was nothing to prevent normal trade going ahead. However, in the case of the Crown Agents arrangements would have to be made to settle the Ugandan debt before new orders could be under- taken. Mr. Bula said that President Amin had alleged that Britain refused to supply hospital equipment which was urgently needed. Mr. Callaghan strongly refuted this and pointed out that he knew from Mrs. Callaghan that the Great Ormond Street Hospital had recently supplied urgently needed equipment. However, one result of Amin's recent actions was that doctors and nurses were no longer ready to go to Uganda to work. This was an indication of the extent of the damage. Answering a question from Mr. Bula Mr. Callaghan said there was nothing Zaire could do about this; only Amin could settle the problem by action. Mere words of guarantee were worth nothing. Mr. Bula suggested that Zaire should be a mediator on these matters. They had understanding of colonial problems and had had their own difficulties with the Belgians. He referred to the United Kingdom's moral responsibility to help Uganda. Mr. Callaghan pointed to the fact that out of all the ex-colonies it was only with Uganda that Britain faced such problems. 7. Mr. Callaghan mentioned the importance to Britain of obtaining com- pensation for the Ugandan Asians and others dispossessed. He was willing to send a small team to discuss compensation if the Zairians thought this advisable. President Amin had said in a message to the Prime Minister of 10 April that he was now ready for discussions. Mr. Bula suggested that while such discussions of compensation were continuing normal trade, including credit, should be allowed to continue. Mr. Callaghan said there was no problem over normal trade, but Uganda could not expect credit while she had such debts outstanding. Mr. Bula asked about spare parts for military vehicles, and Mr. Callaghan replied that he was willing to arrange for a visiting team to pursue this also. Mr. Bula asked whether a small team could go to Uganda to discuss trade and credit. In subse- quent discussion it was suggested that the Crown Agents would perhaps be the most appropriate organisation to provide a team in the first instance. CONFIDENTIAL