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6.
obvious to him from the moment an extension was proposed. (The question of Mr. Davidson's attendance at the signature of the new
agreement is less serious: if his appointment to the British Virgin. 1slands were to be confirmed we could either seek to arrange that Mr. Wallace, the present Governor, stay on for a few months, or, if this were impossible, look at the possibility of Mr. Davidson making a special journey to Brunei for the ceremony.)
9.
No other suitable Diplomatic Service candidate to take
Mr. Davidson's place in the British Virgin Islands in November is
at present in view. There are two or three HMOCS candidates who would
be worth considering but no obviously suitable runner is immediately
available.
Recommendation
10.
I would prefer that the appointment of Mr. Davidson as Governor of the British Virgin Islands should stand. I recognise that the appointment would be a gamble but the element of risk
does not, on present
on present evidence, seem to me to be excessive.
However
ז
I recognise that this is a matter for judgement and I acknowledge the strength of feeling of the geographical department. If th
appointment is to be reviewed or overturned, this can, in my view, only be done by the Dependent Territories Senior Appointments Board which made the recommendation in the first place. It may be thought that before a decision is taken to reconvene the Board,
Lord Goronwy-Roberts (who has seen a good deal of Mr. Davidson in his capacity as High Commissier in Brunei) and Mr. Rowlands (within whose area of responsibility the British Virgin Islands fall) should see the papers and indicate whether or not they would wish
the appointment to be reconsidered.
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/11.