◆ SpookStack

•,<TV g) Meanwhile we should i. consider covert means of deterrence; ii« study the practical measures that might be necessary to prevent Amin attending if he decided to try to do so. I should emphasise that these conclusions, especially (c)• above, do not represent an agreed view within the I*CO. Opinions amongst officials differ. I would add that, if between now and the Meeting there were further ugly incidents in Uganda, we ought in my view to react at once with an announcement that we would not have Amin in the country. If, however, nothing further happens between now and the Meeting to increase public concern, I think we should act as recommended above. 20. I have also considered whether, without consulting other Commonwealth Governments, we should formally ask Amin not to attend the Meeting. This might be a card to play nearer the time of the Meeting, if we have finally decided by then that he must be allowed to come if he so wishes. The advantage of doing this would be that we could claim that we had tried to dissuade him from coming} but there would be a clear disadvantage in our putting ourselves in-hie hands in that way* Antony Du 25 March 1977