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HCM 4/1
CONFIDENTIAL
COVERING SECRET
DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULAR
7 November 1968
COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS' MEETING
7-15 JANUARY 1969
BRIEFING PROGRAMME
The annotated Provisional Agenda for the Meeting has not yet been circulated by the Commonwealth Secretariat, but I should like to have your preliminary views on the briefing programme, to avoid too much rush later on.
2. I attach a copy of the Provisional Agenda previously circulated: we do not expect the annotated Agenda to differ significantly from it except that the Agenda item No. 5 "Commonwealth Citizenship and Migration" may well be omitted.
3. The Defence and Oversea Policy (Official) Committee will have to consider the briefing programme which will list the subjects to be covered and allocate departmental responsibilities for individual briefs. In the meanwhile I am assuming that as in 1966 briefs will be divided into three categories:
Category A
Category B
Category C
Main briefs on items on the Agenda, either specifically indicated or expected to arise, and on other major matters which British Ministers may wish to raise.
Defensive briefs on matters which might be raised. collectively or bilaterally by other Prime Ministers or on subjects of lesser importance.
Additional briefs on subjects which British Ministers might wish to discuss outside the Meeting with one or more Delegations.
4. I should be grateful if you would let me have by Wednesday, 13 November a list of briefs which you consider necessary, in the following form:
Example:
CATEGORY A
Subject of
Brief
Agenda Item
Apartheid in South Africa
1
Initiating Department
Southern
African
Department FCO
Other Whitehall Departments to be consulted
Board of Trade, Treasury
1
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