DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
SECURIT LASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Lord Chancellor that it might prove extremely
difficult to hold the line on Constitution Acts.
The setting of such a precedent (no original and
unique document important to UK history has ever
been removed from the PRO for permanent retention
overseas) is bound to lead to renewed requests for
further documents considered to be historically
important to these countries. This would add an
irritant in our bilateral relationships.
Consideration would also have to be given to the
furore which could be expected from academics and
others, not only in this country but also from
overseas; the records of the FCO and its
predecessor departments are some of the most
heavily consulted in the PRO.
The Foreign Secretary therefore agrees with the
Lord Chancellor that we should continue to resist
the Australian request. He is of course happy to
attend a meeting about the matter if this is the
Prime Minister's wish.
In case the Prime Minister accepts his advice I
enclose a draft letter to Mr McLeay from the Prime
Minister which we could arrange for the High
Commissioner in Canberra to deliver. The Foreign
Secretary considers however that in addition to
writing to Mr McLeay, we should inform the
Australian Government of our further consideration
of this question. A draft telegram to Canberra to
pobaby