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membership.
The main points are as follows.
Much
On
of the Committee's time is taken up by a discussion
of territories for which we are not responsible
particularly Namibia and the Portuguese territories, but also including French and US territories.
the African issues we would not be able to go as far as the majority of the Committee would want and our presence would ensure that we were singled
out more than other Western countries for attack.
Both on African and other issues we would also be
repeatedly put in the position of defending the
As Mr Richard interests of other Western countries.
says,
"There would be no virtue in rejoining the
Committee and then having to fight a continuing
defensive battle without the supporting presence of our Americans and European allies". Furthermore, the Chairman of the Committee has advised against
our full re-entry as have some of the friendly
members.
11. It is therefore unlikely that we would get much credit from full membership, rather than a more limited form of co-operation, while we stand to
suffer considerable disadvantage.
The more
limited form of co-operation recommended by
Mr Richard and considered below would seem a more
rewarding course of action.
Specific Recommendations
Provision of Information (Paragraph 6(a) of Letter)
12.
Mr Richard recommends that we show provide
the Committee with information on developments
in our dependent territories both on our own
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/initiative
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