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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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The
the Administering Power to decide whether the
mission would be useful, and unwise to arouse the Committee's expectations that we are prepared
to accept missions as a matter of routine. right line might therefore be that maintained by the Labour Government (paragraph 21 of this submission) (which is close to the attitude of
the Australian delegate commended by Mr Richard
in his letter). At the same time, we could
demonstrate our greater flexibility by making a specific proposal for a visiting mission in
1974 or 1975. If this recommendation is agreed,
a separate submission will be made suggesting that we should invite a visiting mission (or single observer) to observe the referendum in the Ellice
Islands later this year.
23. I recommend that we should approve Mr Richard's
recommendation subject to the qualifications
in paragraph 22 above.
Associated States and Brunei (Paragraph 7(b) of Letter)
24. Mr Richard points out that these territories
present particular problems and call for
different treatment. Successive UK governments
have formally maintained that the Administering
Power has the right to decide when a territory
ceases to be non-self-governing. This position is fully consistent with General Assembly Resolution
222 (III) of 1948 which was the original
interpretation of the required procedure for action
by member governments under Article 73E of the Charter. Later General Assembly and Committee
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