surprise) I had no special plane (a good mark for the Commissionâs sense of economy, which I hope was noted), I would have to leave if I was to catch my commercial flight. So I left with a warm farewell, was just in time for a good punctual flight, and got to East Hendred at 7.15 feeling much better than for several days. It is part of Schmidtâs quality that his gloom has an inspiriting effect.
SUNDAY, 20 MARCH.
East Hendred.
Beaumarchaisâ, 71 Rodgersâ and Leslie Bonham Carter 72 to lunch. Bill on surprisingly good form. Rather wanted a pact with the Liberals, but ready if necessary to face an election, and thought the Labour Party might even win it. Surprisingly pro-Callaghan, rather more settled in the Cabinet than a few weeks ago. No sign of jealousy of David Owen.
MONDAY, 21 MARCH.
East Hendred and The Hague.
10.15 plane to Amsterdam and to the Hôtel des Indes at The Hague, a wonderful re-creation with infinite pains of the nineteenth-century atmosphere of Jakarta, built about 1840. Then to theCatshuis, for half an hourâs talk with Joop den Uyl, 73 the Dutch Prime Minister, before the lunch he was giving for me. He was extremely interested, despite the fact that he was in the midst of a major Cabinet crisis, in what Schmidt had said to me on Friday (about the Summit, not about the Dutch, which I did not repeat), very firm and keen about Community representation there. A very informal atmosphere, as seems usual in The Hague. Den Uyl himself opens the front door and then towards the end of the conversation ministers who have been asked to lunch drift in. There were about eight at lunch: Max van der Stoel, the Foreign Minister, van der Stee, 74 the Agricultural Minister, plus Ruud Lubbers, 75 the Economics Minister, and Duisenberg, the Finance Minister, with both of whom I am increasingly impressed. Extremely agreeable and interesting lunch, with a good half-hourâs discussion about the Summit.
Then we adjourned to the Cabinet Room next door and settled down for two and a half hoursâ discussion on a whole range of issues, agriculture, enlargement, North/South dialogue, economic and monetary policy, Social Fund, regional policy, agenda for the Summit, etc. Fairly exhausting, but well worthwhile. They fielded a team of about five ministers, who changed from time to time, whereas I had to deal with the whole thing myself.
Then to the Parliament building for a public session on direct elections of the Second Houseâs (the principal chamber in Holland) Foreign Affairs Committee. I spoke for about ten minutes and then answered questions for another quarter of an hour. Before that a television interview, after that a press conference for twenty-five minutes and a radio interview. Then a pause. Then an official dinner in a restaurant almost alongside the hotel. I got the news during the day that Carter was definitely inviting me to Washington and was offering the dates we had suggested. Good news this; important to decide how to handle the announcement of it in relation to the Rome European Council. A good day in The Hague too. It is a pleasure to talk to the Dutch Government because of theircommitment to the Community and the common premises from which we start a discussion.
TUESDAY, 22 MARCH.
The Hague and Brussels.
Drove to Soestdijk to see Queen Juliana. Arrived there in time for an 11.15 audience. An agreeable palace in a belt of woodland, built I think about 1690 or 1700, but with I would guess a good number of subsequent additions. Rather pretty, light style of architecture. The amenities somewhat diminished, however, by there being a six-lane highway literally within 250 yards of the front entrance.
As with the King of the Belgians, the proceedings were immensely informal by British court standards. I was met by a sort of Wren officer who took me upstairs to the first floor, where we waited for a moment and then Queen Juliana appeared from an unexpected door, looking
SUNDAY, 20 MARCH.
East Hendred.
Beaumarchaisâ, 71 Rodgersâ and Leslie Bonham Carter 72 to lunch. Bill on surprisingly good form. Rather wanted a pact with the Liberals, but ready if necessary to face an election, and thought the Labour Party might even win it. Surprisingly pro-Callaghan, rather more settled in the Cabinet than a few weeks ago. No sign of jealousy of David Owen.
MONDAY, 21 MARCH.
East Hendred and The Hague.
10.15 plane to Amsterdam and to the Hôtel des Indes at The Hague, a wonderful re-creation with infinite pains of the nineteenth-century atmosphere of Jakarta, built about 1840. Then to theCatshuis, for half an hourâs talk with Joop den Uyl, 73 the Dutch Prime Minister, before the lunch he was giving for me. He was extremely interested, despite the fact that he was in the midst of a major Cabinet crisis, in what Schmidt had said to me on Friday (about the Summit, not about the Dutch, which I did not repeat), very firm and keen about Community representation there. A very informal atmosphere, as seems usual in The Hague. Den Uyl himself opens the front door and then towards the end of the conversation ministers who have been asked to lunch drift in. There were about eight at lunch: Max van der Stoel, the Foreign Minister, van der Stee, 74 the Agricultural Minister, plus Ruud Lubbers, 75 the Economics Minister, and Duisenberg, the Finance Minister, with both of whom I am increasingly impressed. Extremely agreeable and interesting lunch, with a good half-hourâs discussion about the Summit.
Then we adjourned to the Cabinet Room next door and settled down for two and a half hoursâ discussion on a whole range of issues, agriculture, enlargement, North/South dialogue, economic and monetary policy, Social Fund, regional policy, agenda for the Summit, etc. Fairly exhausting, but well worthwhile. They fielded a team of about five ministers, who changed from time to time, whereas I had to deal with the whole thing myself.
Then to the Parliament building for a public session on direct elections of the Second Houseâs (the principal chamber in Holland) Foreign Affairs Committee. I spoke for about ten minutes and then answered questions for another quarter of an hour. Before that a television interview, after that a press conference for twenty-five minutes and a radio interview. Then a pause. Then an official dinner in a restaurant almost alongside the hotel. I got the news during the day that Carter was definitely inviting me to Washington and was offering the dates we had suggested. Good news this; important to decide how to handle the announcement of it in relation to the Rome European Council. A good day in The Hague too. It is a pleasure to talk to the Dutch Government because of theircommitment to the Community and the common premises from which we start a discussion.
TUESDAY, 22 MARCH.
The Hague and Brussels.
Drove to Soestdijk to see Queen Juliana. Arrived there in time for an 11.15 audience. An agreeable palace in a belt of woodland, built I think about 1690 or 1700, but with I would guess a good number of subsequent additions. Rather pretty, light style of architecture. The amenities somewhat diminished, however, by there being a six-lane highway literally within 250 yards of the front entrance.
As with the King of the Belgians, the proceedings were immensely informal by British court standards. I was met by a sort of Wren officer who took me upstairs to the first floor, where we waited for a moment and then Queen Juliana appeared from an unexpected door, looking
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