CONFIDENTIAL
Reference..
t
Mr. Eaden (Communications Dept.)
Mr. MacKintosh held a meeting yesterday to look into the question of ensuring that Defence Policy Department and, through them, the Ministry of Defence, were kept fully informed of events in the remaining dependent territories, so that if trouble looked like blowing up, we should have advance warning of it.
2.
In the course of the discussion, some of the former Colonial Office officers, who are now in charge of the dependent territory departments, spoke of an earlier telegram distribution which was known as "Disturbances Distribution", (I understand that Miss Lockwood, one of the Telegram
It Examiners, is acquainted with the details). was suggested that it would be helpful if this distribution could be resurrected, so that if trouble did occur, all those who would be concerned with it could be placed automatically on the necessary distribution. It would only be used in
emergencies. The recipients would be normally the department dealing with the territory, the corresponding political departments or those likely to be affected in the FCO, Defence Policy Department, probably PUSD and various individuals in the
Ministry of Defence.
There might also be others
who should be on the distribution.
3. I should be grateful for your comment on the proposal that this should be resurrected. There Sooms to me a good deal of merit in it, since when a crisis of this kind arises, one of the diffi- culties is to ensure that all those concerned are aware of what is going on, and can thus attend meetings fully briefed, An automatic distribution would ensure this, but there may be technical reasons against it of which I am not aware.
RAJykes
(R.A. Sykes)
29 November. 1968
1.274
Copies to:
Mr.
MacKintosh
Mr. Fairclough (W.I.D.) Mr. Jerrom (P.I.O.D.)
Mr. Bennett (G.S.A.D
Mr. Bullock (N.A.C.D)
Mr. Carter (Hong Kong Dept.)
Mr. Gay MG. 3/14
712
"OFFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
- 3DEC 1968
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