IMMEDIATE
To Heads of
L
Caribbean Department
Central & Southern African Department East African Department
Eastern European and Soviet Department Far Eastern Department
Gibraltar & General Department
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department
Latin America Department
Middle East Department
Near East & North Africa Department
North America Department
Pacific Dependent Territories Department Republic of Ireland Department
Rhodesia Department
South Asian Department
South East Asian Department
Southern European Department
South West Pacific Department
West African Department
Western European Department
West Indian & Atlantic Department
(29)
(26
FAMILIARISATION VISITS
The Permanent Under-Secretary has asked how many geographical desks in the Office are now manned by officers who have never visited the countries whose affairs they handle.
1.
I
2. I should be grateful if you would let me have this information as quickly as possible and in any case not later than 27 May. would suggest that you should include Assistants as well as desk officers in your returns. In cases where staff have not visited the countries with which they deal, it would be interesting to know:
a) which countries they cover;
b)
how long they have been in the department;
c)
whether there is a reasonable prospect that they would be able to visit their country or countries in the course of their tour of duty on that particular desk (eg to attend bilateral or multilateral negotiations).
3. I should be grateful for nil returns.
Shhirchend
J S Whitehead
Personnel Services Department
21 May 1976