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CONFIDENTIAL Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH 11 August 1978 C The Archbishop of Uganda Thank you for your letter of 7 August with which you enclosed a copy of a letter sent to the Prime Minister by Archbishop Wani of Uganda, asking for a meeting to convey a message from President Amin proposing a restoration of diplomatic relations with Britain. The Prime Minister mentioned to Dr Owen in April that he had no interest whatever in warming up relations with General Amin. Dr Owen has recently concluded that it would be premature at this stage to take any initiative of a bilateral kind which could be interpreted by Amin and others as a first step towards the resumption of relations. The Anglican church in Uganda has suffered considerable persecution at Amin's hands. It remains a focus for humane standards and as such merits our sympathy and support. We do not want to take any action which might put its members at risk at home Bit Archbishop Wani has made clear that he is in this instance acting under instructions as an emissary of Amin for a political purpose. In these circumstances Dr Owen recommends against the Prime Minister or any other Minister receiving the Archbishop, However, Dr Owen thinks it would be wrong to rebuff the Archbishop since this would not only disappoint many Ugandan Christians, but also make good propaganda for Amin. Dr Owen suggests that Archbishop Wani should be received by a Private Secretary at No. 10. This would show that the Prime Minister had responded out of courtesy to the Archbishop but need not involve any discussion of substance. The Private Secretary could simply take note of whatever Archbishop Wani had to say and at the most explain that any move towards re-establishing relations would depend on the human rights situation in Uganda. it' I enclose a draft reply to Archbishop Wani which reflects Dr Owen's advice. J S WalJ N Sanders Esq 10 Downing Street CONFIDENTIAL