TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST
DEFA14A, 1997-03-05
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A

                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the registrant                              [ X ]

Filed by a party other than the registrant           [   ]

Check the appropriate box:

[  ] Preliminary proxy statement                     [  ] Confidential, for
                                                          use of the
                                                          Commission only    
                                                         (as permitted
                                                          Rule 14a-6(e)(2)

[   ]    Definitive proxy statement

[ X ]    Definitive additional materials

[   ]    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
                    TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST

                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
                    TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ X ]    No fee required.

[   ]    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)       
          and O-11.

         (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

         (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

         (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
             pursuant  to Exchange Act  Rule 0-11(Set forth the amount on which 
             the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined.)

         (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

         (5) Total fee paid:

[  ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary material.

[  ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange
     Act Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting
     fee was paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration
     statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

         (1)  Amount previously paid:

         (2)  Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
 
        (3)  Filing party:

         (4)  Date filed:

<PAGE>


                    TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST
                             500 East Broward Blvd.
                                   Suite 2100
                       Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33394-3091

                                                       March 3, 1997

Dear Shareholder:

         You  should  have  recently  received  proxy  materials  for the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of Templeton Global  Governments  Income
Trust (the  "Trust") to be held on March 25, 1997.  The matters to be considered
at the Meeting include a shareholder  proposal to amend the Trust's  Declaration
of Trust to  convert  the  Trust  from a  closed-end  investment  company  to an
open-end  investment  company.  The  proposal  was  submitted  by a  shareholder
concerned that the Trust's  shares are currently  trading at a discount from net
asset value. Although the Board of Trustees shares this concern, it continues to
recommend that you vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal.

   As stated in the proxy materials, the Board believes it is in the best inter-
ests of the Trust and its shareholders, for the Trust to continue to operate
as a closed-end investment company. The Board reviews the operations of the
Trust on an ongoing basis in order to serve the best interests of the Trust and
its shareholders. At its most recent meeting, the Board approved an open market
(that is, on the New York Stock Exchange) share repurchase program, pursuant to
which the Trust may, from time to time at the discretion of management, purchase
up to 2 million shares of the Trust's shares of beneficial interest
(approximately 10% of the shares  outstanding) in open-market transactions.  A
copy of the press release announcing the share repurchase program is enclosed.

         The share repurchase program is intended to benefit shareholders by
enabling the Trust to acquire its own shares at a discount to net asset  value,
thereby increasing the proportionate interest in the Trust of each remaining
shareholder.  Although the success of such a program cannot be predicted, it is
hoped that the share repurchase  program will help bring the market price of the
Trust's shares closer to their net asset value. At the same time, the repurchase
program will permit the Trust to  ontinue to benefit from operating  as a
closed-end investment company.

         Also  enclosed  is an  additional  proxy card which you may use to have
your shares voted at the Meeting, if you have not already done so. IF YOU HAVE
ALREADY SUBMITTED A PROXY CARD AND WISH TO REVOKE OR CHANGE YOUR VOTE, PLEASE
COMPLETE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE
PRE-PAID ENVELOPE.  he prior proxy card that you submitted will be disregarded
in favor of the more recent proxy card that you return.

         We appreciate your participation and prompt response in this matter,
and thank you for your continued support. Please call our toll-free  number
1-800/DIAL-BEN if you have disposed of your original proxy materials  or
otherwise require additional copies of them.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   /s/ Gregory E. McGowan
                                    PRESIDENT


<PAGE>



                    TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST

                            Broward Financial Centre

                        500 East Broward Blvd./Suite 2100

                          Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33394-3091

                                Tel: 954/527-7500

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Holly Gibson at 415/312-4701.

                    TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST
                 ANNOUNCES OPEN MARKET SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Ft. Lauderdale,  Florida, February 26, 1997. TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME
TRUST (THE  "TRUST")  (NEW YORK STOCK  EXCHANGE:  TGG), a closed-end  management
investment company,  announced today that the Board of Trustees of the Trust has
authorized  management  to implement an  open-market  share  repurchase  program
pursuant to which the Trust from time to time at the  discretion  of  management
may  purchase up to an aggregate  of 2 million  shares of the Trust's  shares of
beneficial interest (approximately 10% of the shares outstanding on February 18,
1997) in open-market transactions.

The Trust is  designed  for  investors  seeking a high level of  current  income
consistent with the preservation of capital through investing in debt securities
of government  entities of various  nations  throughout  the world.  The Trust's
investment  manager is the Templeton Global Bond Managers  Division of Templeton
Investment  Counsel,  Inc.,  and Neil S.  Devlin is the Trust's  lead  portfolio
manager. The Trust currently has total assets in excess of $188 million.

The Trust's investment manager is a subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. 
(NYSE: BEN). Franklin's main business is the $186 billion Franklin Templeton 
Group. Franklin has its headquarters at 777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, 
California 94404.

                                      # # #



<PAGE>


PROXY            TEMPLETON GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS INCOME TRUST            PROXY

                 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MARCH 25, 1997
                              PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY

           This Proxy is Solicited on behalf of the Board of Trustees

      The undersigned hereby appoints BARBARA J. GREEN and JOHN K. CARTER, and
each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies to vote for and in the
name, place and stead of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Templeton Global Governments Income Trust (the "Trust") to be held at the
Trust's offices, 500 East Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33394-3091, on
Tuesday, March 25, 1997 at 10:00 A.M.,  EST,  and at any adjournment thereof,
according to the number of votes and as fully as if personally present.



                 (Continued and to be signed on the other side)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>                                              <C>

Please mark boxes [ ] or [X] in blue or black ink.

1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES:         

THE TRUSTEES RECOMMEND YOU VOTE "FOR" ELECTING OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

  [ ] FOR THE NOMINEES                              [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                       (except as marked to the contrary below)          
                                     (to vote for all nominees listed below)

   Betty P. Krahmer, Nicholas F. Brady, Charles B. Johnson and Edith E. Holiday
  (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any idividual nominee, write 
   that nominee's name on the space provided below.)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Ratification of the selection of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as independent
   public accountants for the Trust for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1997.

THE TRUSTEES RECOMMEND YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.

                         FOR     [ ]      AGAINST    [ ]     ABSTAIN    [ ]

3. To amend the Trust's Declaration of Trust to convert the Trust to an open-end
investment company.

THE TRUSTEES RECOMMEND YOU VOTE "AGAINST" PROPOSAL 3.


                        FOR     [ ]      AGAINST    [ ]     ABSTAIN    [ ]

4. In their discretion, the Proxyholders are authorized to vote upon such other
matters whcih may legally come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

THE TRUSTEES RECOMMEND YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 4.


                        FOR     [ ]      AGAINST    [ ]     ABSTAIN    [ ]

 This  Proxy  when  properly  executed  will be  voted in the
 manner (or not voted) as specified.  If no  specification is
 made,  the Proxy will be voted FOR all  nominees for Trustee
 in Proposal 1, in favor of  Proposal 2,  AGAINST  Proposal 3
 and within the discretion of the Proxyholders as to Proposal        
 4.

     Please sign personally. If the shares are registered in more
     than one name,  each joint  owner or each  fiduciary  should
     sign  personally.  Only authorized  officers should sign for
    corporations.

 Dated _______________________________________________________


       ______________________________________________________ 
                            Signature

       ________________________________________________________
                             Signature
</TABLE>



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