This account of a meeting held on the 15th August 1972 between Geoffrey Ripon and General Amin shows the difficulties in pursuing diplomatic relations between Uganda and the UK at the time of the expulsion of the Ugandan Asians. (FCO 89/10 f.1)
Transcript
Confidential
Meeting between the RT. Hon Geoffrey Rippon Q.C. M.P., Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and General Amin, President of Uganda, held at the Command Post, Kampala at 11.00 hours on Tuesday, 15 August 1972.
Present:
Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Rippon H.E. President Didi Amin
Mr R.N.K. Slater H.E. Mr Oboth Ofumbi (Minister
Of Internal Affairs)
Mr S.Y. Dawbarn H.E. Mr. E Wakhweya (Minister of Finance.
Mr D Walker H.E. Mr Lutara (Min of Commerce)
Miss C. Wheatley H.E. Mr Byagagaire(Acting Foreign
Minister)
Mr Etiang (Permanent Secretary, MFA)
General Amin welcomed Mr. Rippon and said that he had cancelled a holiday to be with him today. He invited him to lunch at the State House. He thanked him for his letter.
Mr Rippon said that he hoped the letter illustrated how we could deal with the Problem. He would like to make two things clear: firstly, that the Uganda Government was solely responsible for the way in which Uganda was run; secondly, that the Government of the United Kingdom accepted its responsibilities for United Kingdom passport holders.
Both governments had responsibilities and both had problems which each could appreciate. They must discuss how to solve the practical problems in a decent, orderly and humane way. They had very friendly relations as countries and many common interests. They were both practical men and would undoubtedly be able to sort this out.