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CONFIDENTIAL IMMEDIATE GRS300 ' CYPHER CAT A FM KAMPALA 270905Z D E S K B Y 271100Z CONFIDENTIAL TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 37 OF 2? JANUARY 1975 AOT SAVING TO NAIROBI. PRESIDENT AM IN s MY TELEGRAM NO 36. 1. I HAVE SPOKEN INFORMALLY OVER THE WEEKEND TO TRUSTWORTHY COLLEAGUES,(PARTICULARLY AFRICAN) TO MINISTERS, OFFICIALS AND OTHERS. I AM NOW CONFIRMED IN THE VIEW EXPRESSED IN MY TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE THAT AM IN WOULD REGARD AS PROVOCATION AMY OFFICIAL REPLY TO THE EFFECT THAT HIS PROPOSED VISIT TO THE UK WAS "INCONVENIENT". TO HAVE TOLD HIM ON THE DAY WHEN HE WAS RECEIVING DELEGATIONS AND TEL EGRAf-S BEAR ING MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES (ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SECOND REpUBLIC) WOULD IN THE VIEW OF MOST OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED TO BRING A SWIFT REACTION.IT PROBABLY STILL WOULD . THE CONCENSUS APPEARED TO BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S TELEGRAM WOULD BE BEST IGNORED.THIS WOULD BE THE AFRICAN WAY OF SAYING THAT THE VISIT WOULD NOT BE VCLCOME . IF AM IN WERE THICK SKINNED ENOUGH NOT TO TAKE THE POINT AND PRESSED FOR A REPLY (OPINION IS DIVIDED ON THE QUESTION OF HOW SERIOUSLY HE EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN)IT MIGHT, IN THE VIEW OF OUR AFRICAN FRIENDS, BE NECESSARY TO- SPELL OUT THE REASONS FOR OUR SILENCE. AND ACCORDING TO AFRICAN CUSTOM HIIS WOULD BEST BE DONE INDIRECTLY (I E BY SUMMONING ISINGOMA. /IND ASKING HIM TO EXPLAIN THE POSITION TO HIS MASTER) 2. I DOUBT WHETHER THE MATTER WILL BE RAISED HERE. IF IT IS I WOULD PROPOSE TO REPLY ON THE LINES OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 19 MAKING IT CLEAR THAT I HAD NOT RECEIVED - AND DID NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE-INSTRUCT IONS , BUT THAT THIS IS WHAT I IMAGINED THE POSITION TO BE . . 3. AUGUST IS A LONG WAY OFF-AND MUCH CAN HAPPEN BEFORE THEN-BUT SHOULD THE WORST BEFALL US THERE IS PROBABLY LITTLE V/E CAN DO TO STOP HIM. AS WE FOUND OVER THE ASIANS ATTEMPTS TO DEFLECT HIM USAULLY MAKE HIM KORE DETERMINED, WHEREAS IF TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL " . / HOT WORTHY 0?