CONFIDENTIAL
13.
1.
INDO-CHINA
Direct British interest in Vietnam, the Khmer Republic and
Laos is slight apart from co-chairmanship of the Geneva
Conferences.
2. The Information Sections were abolished some time ago in
Phnom Penh and Vientiane. The ambassador in Saigon recently
commented that after the last post-Duncan Inspection he really has
no Information Section. The main Information tasks are to give
maximum assistance to the BBC and to brief the British Press Corps.
Vietnam
(a) Expenditure
1971-72
1970-71
FCO/CCI/HMSO
26,294
22,725
British Council
4,731
3,335
Totals
31,025
27,060
(b) Staff
(c)
Grade 5 Head of Chancery responsible for Information
work, assisted by Grade 9 Vice-Consul and a Grade 7
Chancery Officer.
8 L.E.s who perform other duties in the Embassy.
Comments
(i) Operational
The present low level of activity has been
regarded as consonant with our objectives.
Nevertheless, the Ambassador thinks that more
could now be done and we shall look sympathetically
at any requests we may receive for eg more
material for the news media.
29
CONFIDENTIAL