Mr Harrison
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Mr Smith Nur Heun
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RECEIVED A REGISTRY CT 1985
is
SUBSTAY
INDEX
PA
» Taken
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION (CWGC)
1.
Mr Dalley, CWGC Director of Secretariat, and Mr MacKay, Senior External Relations Officer, called on you on 16 October for a periodic round-up of CWGC activities and concerns of interest to the FCo. I and Mr Owen were also present at the meeting and subsequently at a working lunch. The main points that arose are recorded below.
UK/GDR WAR GRAVES AGREEMENT
2.
Mr Dalley confirmed that a draft agreement was near to being finalised although problems remain over maintenance costs. The originial exorbitant GDR bid had now been substantially reduced. Mr Symmons, Deputy Director of general operations of the CWGC, hopes to be able to agree a compromise figure when he visits Dresden next month. If he succeeds the CWGC hope it will be possible to move rapidly to signature of a UK/GDR agreement to which other CWGC members can accede in due course.
LIBYAN DEMAND FOR RENT FOR WAR GRAVES
3. Mr Dalley confirmed that the Australian DFA had spoken to the Libyan Peoples' Bureau in Canberra following press reports of a demand for rent conveyed to missions in a Note Verbale in 1985. There had been no further reaction from the Libyan authorities. It was agreed that it is best to play this request long in the hope that the Libyan authorities choose not to pursue it. Mr Dalley also confirmed that the Commission are receiving reports from Mr Dunnachie on war graves he has visited and from a private individual in Benghazi. The possibility of a visit to Libya by the CWGC representative in Egypt (an Indian national) remained in abeyance.
RANGOON WAR CEMETERY
4. Mr Dalley confirmed that the Commission accept the Burmese proposition that the cemetery could be transferred as a matter of overriding public necessity. The problem remains of convincing the Burmese to pay full costs. The last estimate was that it would cost £300,000 to move the 1400 graves (60 of which are Burmese). Mr Dalley said the Commission recognise that this is beyond the scope of the Burmese authorities and they are therefore looking into the possibility of the Burmese paying in kind (e.g. by the provision of labour). In reply to a question he said there were no direct precedents in South East Asia for the Commission paying for the transfer of graves, although they had met some expenses from their own resources for a transfer of graves within Tanzania. In reply to a question you said that if the true impetus for moving the graves stems from General Ne Win there would be little chance of the Burmese relenting whilst he remains on the scene. Interest might diminish once his influence fades. The best policy might again be to play for time by informing the Burmese of CWGC's agreement in principle but politely leaving it up to them to resolve the cost problem.
/A
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