§ 18. Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union; and what subjects were discussed.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI had talks with Mr. Shevardnadze on 7 December during Mr. Gorbachev's visit. In the short time available we discussed a number of questions relating to arms control, human rights, regional conflicts and Anglo-Soviet bilateral relations. I welcomed the United States-Soviet agreement on intermediate nuclear forces and the prospect of further arms control measures, but made clear that a solid improvement in East-West relations would also depend on parallel progress over human rights abuses and issues such as the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.