RESTRICTED
ذاهاب
накоta/i
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM PORT MORESBY. 7015OZ OCT
RESTRICTED
TELNO 141 OF 27 OCTOBER.
TO PRIORITY F C
CANBERRA (FOR COLONEL CARTER)
Sea aloe
INFO PRIORITY MC UK (FOR DS6, DS11 AND LEGAL SECRETARIAT),
See 167
के
N/R.
пра
YOUR TEL 82: VIS T OF 7TH GURKHAS
1. AFTER DISCUSS ON WITH PURSELVES AND FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY
PNG GOVERNMENT LEGAL OFFICERS, WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY DFAT THAT
UNDER PAPUA NEW GUINEAN CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE
REQUIREMENTS AN INFORMAL UNDERSTANDING COULD NOT OPERATE TO EXEMPT
A VISITING FORCE FROM EXISTING LAW. THE ONLY MEANS WHEREBY SUCH
MODIFICATION MAY BE ACHIEVED IS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEFENCE (VISITING FORCES) ACT, 1975 WHICH CONTEMPLATES THAT A
FORMAL AGREEMENT BE ENTERED INTO. THE PNG GOVERNMENT ARE
ACCORDINGLY UNABLE TO AGREE TO AN UNDERSTANDING QUOTE PURPORTING TO MODIFY THE LAWS IN THIS RESPECT UNQUOTE.
2. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT MOD WILL RE-CONSIDER THEIR WISH NOT TO
ACCEPT A FORMAL AGREEMENT. THE PNG AUTHORITIES ARE ANXIOUS THAT
THE VISIT SHOULD TAKE PLACE AND ARE IN NO WAY ATTEMPTING TO IMPEDE
IT BY THEIR VIEWS ON THE TYPE OF AGREEMENT REQUIRED. THE DFAT
HAVE URGED ME TO REQUEST MOD TO AGREE TO THE REQUIREMENT IS SET OUT IN BLICK'S LETTER OF 23 SEPTEMBER TO PEATE (SWPD).
F C O PASS ALL
MIDDLETON
FILES
SWPD
NTD
DEFENCE DEPT
HK & GD
CCD
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY MR STRATTON
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
RESTRICTED