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Mr. Wenban-Smith (UND)
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UN WORLD POPULATION CONFERENCE 1974.
the
1.
With reference to your minute (UM.23/2) of 25 March, I hope we need not make too heavy weather of Sir Rupert John's request to attend this conference. It seems to me that the basis of his request is entirely different from that from Hong Kong; Hong Kong Government are studying the possibility of participation, whilst Sir Rupert John apparently wishes to attend in a personal capacity (the approach to the DBGR came from him personally, not from the Government of St Vincent), which is understandable in view of his previous association with the UN.
2.
As I see it, Sir Rupert is merely seeking some way of obtaining official access to the proceedings. Surely we could oblige him by including his name on the UK list of observers? HMG would not be responsible for his expenses; he need not be invited to delegation meetings. Would such an arrangement really be an embarrassment to us?
3.
If you agree that we could do this I suggest the reply to Sir Rupert might be on the following lines:
(a) we note that Mr. Townley said, in his letter of 7 February, that he would write again about "the modalities involved". Has he received this further guidance?
(b)
(c)
(a)
we assume that Sir Rupert wishes to attend the conference in a personal capacity; we have received no request from the Government of any Associated State to be represented (by Sir Rupert or anyone else);
depending on the answers to these two points we would be prepared to give further consideration to his request;
we might mention (with details) the ECLA invitation - perhaps the WIAS could engineer invitations for themselves as associate members of ECLA?
M. P. Preston Caribbean Department
28 March, 1974.
Copies: Mr. Crowson (HKIOD)
Mr. Glason (PDTD) Mr. Tallboys (G&GD)
DESMRTOUNWIN
Miss Webberley (Soc.
Affairs Dept., ODM) Mr. Pearce (M&TD).