CONFIDENTIAL
064701
MDLIAN 1295
WHILE DESIRABLE, THIS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE POSSIBLE GIVEN THE EVIDENT INDIAN LACK OF INTEREST IN THE TWELVE. FRETWELL POINTED OUT THAT THIS ORIGINATED IN PART FROM THE COMMUNITY'S COOLNESS TOWARDS INDIA AT THE TIME OF UK ACCESSION WHEN ASIA HAD BEEN LEFT ON THE SIDELINES. LONG-TERM EFFORT ON THE ECONOMIC AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL FRONT, MIGHT BE NEEDED TO OVERCOME THIS. BURGHARDT (COMMISSION) SOUGHT TO ARGUE THAT THE INDIANS CURRENTLY HAD NO ECONOMIC GROUNDS FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION THE PRESIDENCY CONCLUDED THAT THE COMMITTEE
SHOULD UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THE INDIAN AUTHORITIES MORE AWARE OF EPC AND OF REINFORCING THE IDENTITY OF THE TWELVE IN INDIA.
4. VIJVERBERG (NETHERLANDS) SUGGESTED THAT THE POLICY PLANNING WORKING GROUP MIGHT LOOK AT INDIA, AS IT HAD JUST DONE WITH JAPAN. SOME DOUBT WAS EXPRESSED ABOUT OVERLAP IN THE WORK OF THE PLANNING AND ASIAN WORKING GROUPS. THE PRESIDENCY UNDERTOOK TO RETURN TO THE
SUGGESTION WHEN POLICY PLANNING IS DISCUSSED ON 31 MAY.
CAMBODIA:
5. THERE WAS A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE WORKING GROUP'S
RECOMMENDATION OF A TROIKA MEETING WITH PRINCE SIHANOUK IN THE
MARGIN OF THE MEETING OF ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WITH DIALOGUE
PARTNERS ON 6-9 JULY IN BANGKOK. ALL WERE CONTENT WITH THE PROPOSAL
PROVIDED THAT SIHANOUK TAKES PART IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY ONLY.
PRINCIPLE, THE TROIKA WOULD BE AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL. THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE PUT TO THE MINISTERIAL EPC MEETING ON 13 JUNE FOR ENDORSEMENT.
PHILIPPINES:
IN
6. VON RICHTHOFEN SAID THAT BOTH THE AMERICANS AND THE JAPANESE HAD SHOWN INTEREST IN THE TWELVE'S ATTITUDE TO THE PLAN OF ASSISTANCE TO
THE PHILIPPINES. THE PRESIDENCY FELT THAT THE TWELVE SHOULD IN
GENERAL BE RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA OF A JOINT INTERNATIONAL EFFORT: NOT NECESSARILY INVOLVING ADDITIONAL FUNDS, BUT CO-ORDINATION OF AID. MURPHY (IRELAND) AND NOIVILLE (FRANCE) EXPRESSED SOME CAUTION.
EXISTING AID ALLOCATIONS WERE NOT BEING FULLY UTILISED AND CA FRENCH
POINT) THERE WAS A PRESSING NEED FOR AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE
PHILIPPINES. THE PRESIDENCY CONCLUDED THAT THE WORKING GROUP SHOULD STUDY THE SUBJECT FURTHER BEFORE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PUT TO THE POLITICAL COMMITTEE.
VIETNAM:
7. FRETWELL SAID THE UK WAS MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUING FLOW
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL