DSR 11C
CONFIDENTIAL
(111) to concentrate on countries where we may be vulnerable to pressure
as from Malaysia; and to take particular account of this in formulating
and presenting policies, such as on overseas students fees, which may
give offence;
(iv) make more use of the Commonwealth in pursuit of our foreign
policy, for example, by considering:
(a) whether the help the Commonwealth has given over Zimbabwe, Uganda,
and Belize can be followed by help in other areas, eg Ghana,
Tanzania;
(b) whether we can make more use of the Commonwealth in the United
Nations, eg over the Falklands;
(v) encourage the trend towards regional cooperation in the Commonwealth
This would maintain and develop many of the advantages of the Commonwealth
without involving British Ministers or officials since we are not members
a regional group, though there would probably be some financial cost to
The scope may not be great, but it might find some
the Secretariat.
support among both old and new Commonwealth members: Australia has been
keen on regional meetings of Asian and Pacific countries; and Jamaica
was disappointed that more progress towards regionalism was n t made at
Melbourne.
23. All these are positive and practical steps, though we should not
expect too much from them.
24. We might at the same time explore the possibility of reducing the
disadvantages to us of some of the Commonwealth's multilateral activities,
though we need to remember that these activities, eg by providing oppor-
tunities for bilateral contacts,' reinforce our bilateral relations.
C
Such an approach might of course conflict with the need for a more posi-
tive and sympathetic attitude to the Commonwealth, and we should not
press it if it looked likely to give offence, and thus jeopardise our
broader interests. But with this proviso we might:
CHGK night
(i) aim for shorter or possibly less frequent meetings.
last for five or six days rather than the notional eight; or might meet
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