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stating categorically its continuing preference to remain a British dependency.
11. From the UK delegation Mr Peter Mills MP (Conservative, Devon West) observed that this was a most important debate and that it was the responsibility of delegates to join in objectively, and not merely to use the occasion for making speeches for home consumption. In referring to Communist intervention in Afghanistan and Cambodia, he urged delegates, and the Commonwealth as a whole, not to bury their collective heads in the sand, but to speak their minds. Another UK delegate, Mr Richard Mitchell MP (Labour, Itchen) urged delegates to debate the issue of the threats to peace realistically, and not merely utter prepared government speeches. The Commonwealth had had considerable success over Zimbabwe; it should now consider how it could help in lessening world tension; delegates had the responsibility of trying to persuade their governments to pursue policies that would lead to this end.
Second Plenary: A new strategy for the developing world: The
Brandt Report
12. The opening speech was made by Mr Keith Penner, leader of the Canadian delegation. He observed that the decade between the Pearson and Brandt Reports had brought many changes, including an increase in hunger and misery, and in the disparity between rich and poor nations. Mr Penner, describing himself as an enthusiastic supporter of the Brandt Report, said the question was not whether the Report would be implemented, but whether the world could afford the consequences if it were not. Canada was in a position to lead by example, and must assist the implementation of the Report's proposals in a decisive way. Whilst admitting that Canada's aid, as a percentage of GNP, had been steadily decreasing, standing at .43%, the country was re-evaluating its policies and had committed itself at the Special UN General Assembly Session to play a major role. He urged parliamentarians, particularly those of the indus- trialised countries, to spur on their governments to educate the public in the mutual benefits to be gained by the North increasing its help to the South.
13. The following speeches, without exception, welcomed the Brandt Report and urged governments to implement its recommend- ations without delay. Allusions were made to the "rich nations" who had "entered into a conspiracy of silence" about the Report. It was feared that the growing confrontation between East and West would obscure the more important and potentially explosive question of North/South relationships. If the aims of the Report were achieved, some of the major causes of war would be eliminated. of the developing countries were sceptical that the North would have the will to implement the Report, or the South the determin- ation to make the necessary adjustments.
Many
14. The leader of the UK delegation, Mr Marten, said that the basic contention of the Report was undeniable, the world was facing a serious economic crisis which would hit developing countries particularly hard; we could not ignore the urgent need to improve the outlook for the developing world, and the UK was sure that the
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