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CONFIDENTIAL \ O.:.. HAVE ALLOWED THE TENSION TO SUBSIDE AND WOULD .BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR MOVE IN A CALMER ATMOSPHERE. WITH THIS.IN MIND WE AIMED AT A BREAK ON 23 JULY, 4. BECAUSE OF THE TENSION BETWEEN KENYA AND UGANDA, THE SITUATION IS HOT HOW AS CALM AS I WOULD1HAVE WISHED IT TO BE, HOWEVER, OUR WARNINGS TO THE BRITISH COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY THOROUGHLY DISSEMINATED AND MANY OF THEM HAVE LEFT, THOSE REMAINING -A HARD CORE OF 2-300 f*SEASONED CAMPAIGNERS'1 -ARE I LEARN NOW EXPECTING US TO BREAK RELATIONS. IF I DELAY ANY FURTHER THE RISK IS THAT OUR WARNINGS WILL NOT BE BELIEVED AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BEGIN DRIFTING BACK AGAIN, (IT WILL ALSO BE • DIFFICULT FOR THE FRENCH TO KEEP THEIR OFFER OPEN INDEFINITELY). MOREOVER, THE LONGER WE DELAY MOW, THE LONGER WE LEAVE IN PLACE A CONVENIENT HOSTAGE TO FORTUNE FOR AM IN TO USE IN THE SHAPE OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE HIGH COMMISSION. 5. AFTER MOST CAREFUL THOUGHT TODAY AND SUBJECT ONLY TO FINAL REVIEW FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING, I HAVE DECIDED THAT THE BALANCE OF RISKS MUST LIE IN FAVOUR OF BREAKING NOW, I SHALL THEREFORE • INSTRUCT THE ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CONVEY THIS TO THE UGANDAN GOVERNMENT ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, 28 JULY, HIMSELF LEAVING tHE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE REST. oF HIS STAFF WILL HAVE LEFT THAT MORNING, EXCEPT FOR TWO OFFICIALS WHO WILL COME UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY AS THE BRITISH INTERESTS SECTION. • . 6. I RECOGNISE THAT AS IMPLIED ABOVE THERE IS A RISK OF VIOLENT REACTION BY AMIN - AS THERE WOULD OF COURSE BE AT ANY TIME, I AM ANXIOUS TO LIMIT THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND IN THIS CONTEXT IT WOULD CLEARLY BE HELPFUL IF AM IN,' FOR THE FIRST DAY OR TWO AFTER HE LEARNS OF OUR DECISION, WERE TO BE STILL EXPECTING THE. UN HELP FOR WHICH HE HAS ASKED* I SHOULD THEREFORE BE MOST GRATEFUL IF THE SECRETARY GENERAL WOULD MAKE AS SYMPATHETIC A RESPONSE TO THE UGANDAN REQUEST AS- HE CAN AND THAT IT SHOULD' REACH AMIN BEFORE HE LEARNS OF OUR DECISION. I AM MOT (MOT) ASKING THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO FALL IN WITH THE UGANDAN REQUEST. - 2 - COHPIBEJJTIAL / IT I S NOTJ