Free Blood at Yellow Water by Ian W Taylor Page B

hospitality and expressing his hope that the
conference would be successful in agreeing to a treaty.
    The meeting then got down to business
following the pre-arranged agenda containing a list of twenty-seven
items. The first items covered standard protocol issues before
coming to the substantive issues. The foreign ministers and defence
ministers led the discussions, starting with a report on the
ministerial meetings in the morning. All comments had to be
translated by interpreters which doubled the time taken to deal
with issues. After an hour and a half, little progress had been
made on the substantive issues and the meeting paused for afternoon
tea. Prime Minister Murray called Prime Minister Koshi aside and
the two had an earnest discussion for the next twenty minutes.
    As the talks recommenced, the two P.M.s
jointly announced a new agenda item which they called “The P.M.s’
Action Plan.” They then had distributed a large broadsheet to
everyone around the table and in firm language requested the
meeting to examine the proposal as their sole priority for the rest
of the afternoon. There was a buzz of surprise and expectancy from
both sides of the meeting as they looked at the Plan.
    Jake looked at the paper and realised it was
virtually a replica of his own proposal. He was even more surprised
when P.M. Murray asked him to explain the Plan to the meeting.
Somewhat nervously, Jake stood up and went through the package of
measures contained in the Plan. He gained more confidence as he
went along, switching from English to Japanese to describe each
point to both sides.
    Jake outlined the issues as succinctly as he
could. There were concessions to be given by both sides. On
tariffs, it was proposed that Japan immediately phase out all
tariffs and quotas on food and agricultural products coming from
Australia. In return Australia was to remove all tariffs on imports
into Australia of Japanese vehicles and automotive parts.
    On investment, both countries were to agree
to remove impediments to investment from the other and to enter
into an investor dispute settlement mechanism. This would remove
the limits on Japanese investment in Australia mining developments
such as the 49% limit currently on Japanese ownership of the Jabiru
mine. Similarly, both countries would agree to remove restrictions
on services provided by the other in their respective countries, in
particular on education.
    The breadth of the proposal clearly took the
delegations by surprise and there was much consternation by both
sides after Jake had finished his explanation. But then P.M. Murray
intervened and said that he expected officials of both sides to
work hard to negotiate an agreement on the basis of the Plan. This
would mean convincing some key players in both Australia and Japan
to endorse the plan, particularly some major industry groups and
corporations. Koshi stood up and endorsed Murray’s sentiments.
    The meeting continued on into late
afternoon, re-generated by the new focus. It then broke up to allow
for intensive consultations with representatives of industry
groups.
    Jake hoped fervently the Plan would work and
knew that the sticking point would be to get the Japanese farming
interests to agree to a rapid withdrawal of its tariffs on
Australian food and agricultural imports. With the Japanese system
of working by the committee process of consultation he knew that it
would be a long night for the Japanese delegation. He also knew
that Murray would have to get the Australian Cabinet to agree to
the removal of foreign investment restrictions on Japan investment
in areas as sensitive as land and uranium development. But the
defining issue would be the outcome of the negotiation on the
submarine contract. There was going to be a lot of lobbying work
behind the scenes if the Plan was going to be approved.
    Jake was heading back to his room when his
mobile phone rang. He was surprised to hear his father’s voice.
    “Hi Jake, sorry to bother you,