BU 27/3
19 March 1903
As a result of the decision that the Commonwealth Secretary should go to New calmal on 28 M roh for the meeting of SITO, the Minister of State, Mr. Ceorge Thomas, has today boun asked in his place to address the members of the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Parliamentary Visit during the morning of Thursday 29 erch, on "World Security Problems". Mr. Thomas's talk is expected to last from 10.00 until about 10.30, followed by questions for about another hour.
I understand that a talk on this subject is given during each visit; the speaker is expected to cover its foreign and Comaonwealth aspects. At Mr. Thomas's request, I'would be grateful if you would ask the Departments concerned in the Foreign Office to prepare short background notes on the main arous of tension:
Viet Nem Middle East East Germany China/Hong Kong
and on such subjects as:
NATO
SEATO CENTO
Nuclear Proliferation
I am also asking the Commonwealth Office to prepare similar notes on the possibility of Five-Power defence arrangements in South East Asia and the China/Hong Kong situation. The main purpose of the notes would be to give Mr. Thomes up-to-date background notes, without a great deal of detail.
I would be grateful if you could let me have any material you can provide by mid-day on 27 March.
H.J. ARBUTHNOTT, ESQ.
D.A. MacLeod