ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
problems. The difficulty of this arrangement for territories with external disputes is evident; although my own experience in WIAD and Pacific DTD was that this difficulty is easily overcome by normal interdepartmental liaison which has worked excellently for example in Belize. It is important not to allow our concern over resolving external disputes to blind us to the fact that most of the Governor's attention has always to be directed to the many and continuing problems of his territory's domestic affairs on which he may at any time require expert advice or assistance.
5. Another way to approach this relatively simple administrative problem might perhaps be to ensure that the Head of any department with responsibility for dependent territories should have the requisite background in HMOCS or the Colonial Office to enable him to talk on level terms with Governors about any matter of colonial policy or practice. But this arrangement fails to meet the need for a co-ordinated and consistent policy in the dependencies.
6.
Another possibility, but in my view less satisfactory, might be to establish a post of Adviser, analogous to the Colonial Police Adviser and Labour Adviser, who could provide the kind of avuncular advice and support which isolated Governors require on internal matters and perhaps help to co-ordinate policy in the F and C O. I have not considered this suggestion with any great care. It is at once evident that such an Adviser would become a focus for professional aspects of colonial administration and would need a small staff. Such a unit might possibly take over some of the functions hitherto discharged by the "General" section of Gibraltar and General Department.
7. Whichever arrangement is adopted it is important to recognize another difference from normal diplomacy. The Governor is not an F and CO representative (and may have no experience of F & CO procedures or personalities). He is the head of another government with which the F & C O needs to maintain a good working understanding. This requires close personal liaison at all times with the Governor and his Ministers (as well as other leading citizens) by means of regular visits from London by a senior F & C O officer with the requisite experience. Staffing arrangements need to take account of this requirement.
8. Finally the arrangement whereby departments dealing with ,dependencies operate both for the F & CO and for ODM has been of jenormous help and advantage to governments of dependent territories.
It would be a really great loss if this were to be prejudiced or abandoned.
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6 April 1977
R N Posnett
ISTRATIĆ
ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE