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THE" M I N I S T E R ' O f j l i S T T C k T M i T l T THf :-c.L'T ibG,~ c so""~*~" THAT THESE LEGAL DIFFICULTIES COULD IE IRONED , THE DECREE WOULD BE AMENDED. HE WISHED TO DEAL - • >'£R MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT V.,c RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CITIZENS AND THt COMPENSATION COULD BE GIVEN TO BRITISH SUBJECTS AS HMG CHOSE. HE HlMSCLF DID HOT KNOW WHERE ALL THE CLAIMANTS VERE. THIS WAS A MATTER FOR HMG. 5 . HE THEN MADE MORE MOVES TO CLOSE THE DISCUSSION, BUT AGAIN I MANAGED TO GET IN A QUICK CUtSTION. Ml KNEW, I SAID , WHAT OFFER THE UCANBAMS HAD MADE TO BRITISH COMPANIES, BUT WHAT ABOUT TnE ASIANS? I ASSUMED THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS? 6. THE MONEY WAS THERE, HE SAID. THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE, OEOTH-0FUMBI, WAS PRESENT AND HAD THE HATTER IN HAND. HE, AMlN WOULD IN ANY CASE FE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, 7 . . AND SO THE DISCUSSION ENDED. AM,IN RAVE NO INDICATION THAT HE WAS ANYTHING BUT SINCERE IN HIS DELIGHT AT HAVING , AS HE SAW IT , REMOVED THE MAIN OBSTACLE IN THE WAY OF NORMALISING RELATIONS. ASSUMING THAT HIS TELEGRAM TO THE PRIME MlHISTER- AND TONIGHT'S PRESS REPORT OF THE TALKS- BEARS AtiY RELATIONS TO THE FACTS (A RATHER B i n ASSUMPTION PERHAPS IN THE LIGHT OF THE FIRST ROUND) THIS DEVELOPMENT IS , AS FAR AS IT GOES, ENCOURAGING . THERE ARE OF COURSE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS /RISING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTS REMARKS , NEVERTHELESS THERE APPEARS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO BRING THE COMPENSATION ISSUE A STEP NEARER TO A CONCLUSION - AN OPPORTUNITY WHICH I BELIEVE WE SIOULD NOT LET S L I P . 8 . THE DIFFICULTY PRESENTED BY THE INVITATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT UGANDA MIGHT I SUGGEST FE OVERCOME EY A MESSAGE ROM THE MR WILSON WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVE AMD ADDING HAT, WHILE OTHER COMMITMENTS RULE OUT A VISIT AT PRESENT , HE WOULD BE PREPARE!) TO DISCUSS THE PRESIDENT'S OFFER WITH AMlN AT THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING IN KINGSTON . AM IN MIGHT WELL VIEW SUCH A MESSAGE AS A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE- AEQ IT COULD CLEAR THE \AY FOR F'l'YTHER TALKS YW OFFIBNAL SSVEL . - r. . . . . . 9 . THERE IS OF COURSE A RISK THAT HE WOULD DECIDE TO TAKE UP THEIR INVITATION (ALTHOUGH I AH INCLINED TO STICK BY MY ORGINAL JUDGEMENT) BUT I ASSUME THAT HIS WILLINGNESS TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE COMPENSATION |P$UE WOULD REMOVE MUCH OF THE EKPARRASSM.ENT THAT HiS P-'tlLNCE A1 THE MEETING MIGHT CTHE'.WISE CAUSE, HENL-i-^Y