CONFIDENTIAL
The Secretary of State can be expected to take a close personal interest in the SPREP Convention, partly because of its connection with SPNFZT but also because he is scheduled to visit Australia, New Zealand and Fiji from 22 to 28 April. Were we to be still sticking to MAFF's guns he would undoubtedly face intense lobbying in all three countries. On the other hand, if we alter our position, the Secretary of State could sign the Convention at the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation Headquarters in Suva during his visit on 28 April.
7. One final point concerns Pitcairn. As Mr Barltrop suggests in his letter of 17 December, Mr O'Leary (the Governor of Pitcairn) will undoubtedly express an interest in acceeding to the Convention. Werewe to block such a move, we would lay ourselves open to criticism in this country from the Pitcairn lobby, which could argue, with some justification, that we were not prepared to assist the population of our smallest Dependent Territory for reasons totally unconnected with the region in which that territory lies. South Pacific criticism of our not signing the Convention could also affect adversely the currently fairly indulgent regional perception of the one remaining British crony in the South Pacific.
8. I should be grateful if these arguments, together with any which you or Legal Advisers might wish to add, could now be put to other Departments in Whitehall, with a request for an early decision.
J Thompson
South Pacific Department OAB G89C
210 6329
cc Mr Anderson
Mr Parry Mr Thorp
12 January 1987
Legal Advisers WH230 Legal Advise ACDD
#216
EL
CONFIDENTIAL