Documents detail the day Gorbachev paid surprise visit to 10 Downing Street

British prime minister later wrote to tell U. S. president: ‘ I actually rather liked him’

LONDON — In the scripted world of high- profile diplomacy, every move is planned weeks in advance, with seating charts, menus and toasts subject to careful scrutiny.

So imagine Britain’s surprise when Mikhail Gorbachev made an unannounced, spontaneous visit to the prime minister’s residence in London.

This happened in December 1984 when the future Soviet leader — chief architect of the liberalization program known as perestroika — made a landmark trip to Britain.

Afterward, an impressed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher told U. S. President Ronald Reagan that Gorbachev was a man the West could do business with.

Gorbachev’s impromptu appearance at the prime minister’s home was revealed in a confidential telegram made public Friday by the National Archives under the “30- year rule” for declassifying secret documents.

It was sent on an urgent basis to Thatcher’s party in Hong Kong, where she was travelling. She had met Gorbachev four days earlier in England.

In what it called “a curious episode,” the Dec. 20 telegram describes how Gorbachev and his entourage decided to drop in on Downing Street while driving from the Houses of Parliament to the Soviet Embassy.

“Apparently, as he passed Downing Street, he expressed a wish to see the outside of No. 10,” the telegram states.

It says the British security agent accompanying him “negotiated access” to the secured street with the policeman on guard.

“They were admitted ... to the front hall ( only). They had gone before any private secretary reached the spot — reportedly in good humour,” the telegram said.

Mark Dunton, records specialist at the National Archives, said the incident shows Gorbachev’s self- confidence.

“It shows what a different kind of person he was.”

The newly released papers also contain Thatcher’s confidential note to Reagan describing the five hours she spent at her country home, Chequers, in talks with Gorbachev, a rising star in the Soviet system who would take over its leadership the following year.

“He is relatively open in manner and intelligent,” Thatcher said of Gorbachev.” I actually rather liked him.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Mikhail Gorbachev poses with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at her official country residence in Chequers. A few days later, he made an impromptu visit to her London residence.