HKG 02512
12 MAY 1981
RECORD OF MR BLAKER'S MEETING WITH COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS: INDIA OFFICE COUNCIL CHAMBER, 5.00 PM 7 APRIL 1981
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PRESENT:
Mr Blaker
Mr Day
Mr Adams
Sir L Allinson
Mr Fergusson Mr Barltrop CCD Mr Bayne ERD
Mr Jones NTD
Mr Martin PCD
Mr Macgregor PS/Mr Blaker
Mr David CCD
Mr Sinton MCD
Mr Webb MCD
High Commissioners
(See list attached)
1. Mr Blaker spoke briefly on three subjects:
(a) Belize
The Heads of Agreement signed in February represented a very significant advance. They included, inter alia, provision for the recognition by Guatemala of Belize's independence within its existing frontiers. The Commonwealth, both at the UN and through the medium of the Commonwealth Ministerial Committee on Belize, had been of great help in securing the Agreement. The Belize Constitutional Conference began on 6 April; its objective was to draw up a constitution for Belize's independence; the UN Resolution envisaged independence by the end of 1981. The Belize government had proposed a two-house parliamentary system with The Queen as Head of State. There were, meanwhile, troubles in Belize, which are primarily the responsibility of the opposition party's Youth Front. Mr Blaker hoped these disturbances would not last long. The Opposition had been invited to attend the Constitutional Conference but had refused. The invitation remained open.
(b) CSCE
Mr Blaker outlined the background to the Madrid conference. He said that it had always been considered that the Helsinki Final Act would initiate a long-term and slowly developing process; no-one had expected any sudden dramatic changes. It had set standards which European countries could and should try to match. British objectives at Madrid were:
/(i) to achieve
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