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GRS-170 S E C R E T v .MMEDIATE CYPHER CAT A FM PARIS 271715 Z SECRET DESKBY 280900Z , , r TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 532 OF 27 MAY 1977 r YOUR TELNO 319 : PRESIDENT AMIN AND THE COMMONWEALTH HEAl|S OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 1. WE TOLD THE QUAI 'D'ORSAY THIS AFTERNOON THAT #OU WERE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ADVICE. WE ALSO EXPLAINED WHY WE WERE/USING THE SAUDIS AND THE DIFFICULTY OF USING OTHER MEMBERS OF ivk COMMONWEALTH. 2. THE QUAI CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD TELEGRAPfflfojXMttMPALA AN ACCOUNT OF MY DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, AND THAT THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED GLASBY TO PROVIDE DAILY SIT REPS. THEY AGREED TO INSTRUCT THEIR EMBASSY IN KAMPALA TO LET US KNOW IMMEDIATELY IF THEY HEARD ANYTHING TO SUGGEST THAT AMIN WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE ~v FOR LONDON. 3. THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN KAMPALA HAVE JUST SENT THE QUAI A FRESH ASSESSMENT OF AMIN'S INTENTIONS. THE EMBASSY BELIEVE THAT: A. AMIN IS UNLIKELY TO TAKE REPRISALS AGAINST THE ENTIRE BRITISH .< COMMUNITY IN UGANDA IF !i£ IS REFUSED ENTRY TO BRITAIN FOR THE CHGM. BUT HE MIGHT TRY TO HOLD HOSTAGE A SMALL NUMBER OF BRITISH SUBJECTS (THREE OR FOUR), B. AMIN IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE HIS REGULAR ASSERTIONS THAT HE INTENDS TO COM2 TO THE CHGM. BUT, WHATEVER HIS REAL INTENTIONS, HE IS DOING THIS BECAUSE OF THE NUISANCE AMD DIFFICULTY WHICH IT CAUSES HMG. C. TO THE BEST OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY'S KNOWLEDGE NO UGANDAN OFFICIAL, EVEN IN AMIN'S CLOSEST ENTOURAGE, 13 AWARE OF HIS REAL INTENTIONS. HENDERSOH [COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET'] F I L E S HJD/EAD HD/WAD HD/PUSD HD/CCD £S PS/PtJS PS/MR ROWLANDS PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS FS/Ma LUARD MR HAlfSFIELD . • S E C H S 2