Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLTCNaval Aidel179 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON A E.O. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 12065, March 2, 1951 State By Dept. DEB NLT, Date 9-4-85 TOP SECRET SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS FOUR POWER We have informed Embassy Paris that EXPLORATORY TALKS the latest proposed draft agenda, which we will present for consideration at the Paris exploratory meeting and which was discussed with the UK and French Ambassadors yesterday, includes the following points: 1) Examination of the causes of present international tension in Europe and the means to secure a real and lasting improvement in the relations between the Soviet Union and the US, UK and France. 2) Completion of the discussions of the Council of Foreign Ministers to obtain rapid conclusions of the treaty for the establishment of an independent and democratic Austria. 3) Problems relating to Germany. Point 1) may include discussion of the following specific considerations: a) the fear of aggression, b) existing level of armaments, c) non-fulfillment of treaty obligations, and d) barriers to official and unofficial intercourse between governments and peoples. UNITED KINGDOM In referring to outspoken demands made in yesterday's debate in the House of Lords calling for the replacement of Bevin, our Embassy in London com- - ments that this reflects strong pressure which has been developing rapidly over the past few weeks for the appointment of a new, "vigorous" Foreign Secretary. Some of the Embassy's Labor contacts consider this pressure "irresistible". Possible successors mentioned include Chuter Ede, Morrison, Shawcross, MacNeil and Gordon Walker, with Ambassador Franks as a possible dark horse. In view of public feeling that the inter - national situation requires strong leadership from the government, the weakness of the Under Secretaries, and because of demands now being made on the Prime Minister's time and energy due to Bevin's repeated absence, T O-P