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pa: Schol
MAB 785
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RECI
*RY
FM PEKING
TO ROUTINE FCO
- 3 FEB 1993
TELNO 79
T
INL
OF 200916Z JANUARY 93
@
073107
MDLIAN 8622
YOUR TEL NO 3 TO ABIDJAN: FCOSAS
1993/94 ALLOCATIONS
1. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE FACED A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE TOTAL ALLOCATION FOR CHINA REMAINS HEALTHY. BUT THE COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF ANY FCO DIPLOMATIC WING ALLOCATION FOR CHINA SEEMS TO US REGRETTABLE IN PRINCIPLE, AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING IN PRACTICE.
2. IF ALL/ALL CHINA AWARDS MUST IN FUTURE MEET ODA'S STRICT DEVELOPMENTAL CRITERIA, WE SHALL LOSE SOME OF THE FLEXIBILITY WHICH WAS AN ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTE OF THE FCO SCHEME WHEN MINISTERS LAUNCHED IT AND ON WHICH WE HAVE TRIED TO CAPITALISE HERE. IT IS HELPFUL THAT ODA ARE PREPARED TO TAKE A FAIRLY BROAD VIEW OF WHAT CONSTITUTES DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING GOOD GOVERNMENT', RIGIDITY REMAINS. FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE GOOD MILITARY CANDIDATES FOR AWARDS IN THE COMING YEAR. WE HAVE A BIG POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST IN BUILDING UP POINTS OF INFLUENCE WITHIN THE CHINESE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT: SENDING THESE OFFICERS TO STUDY IN THE UK WOULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. HOWEVER, THE ODA WILL NOT ACCEPT MILITARY CANDIDATES SO, ON THE PRESENT BASIS, WE WOULD HAVE TO DROP THEM, UNLESS WE HAD SOME CONFIDENCE OF GETTING THE NECESSARY MONEY FROM THE DIPLOMATIC WING POOL IN JULY. IS THERE NO POSSIBILITY THAT ALLOCATIONS COULD BE RE-JUGGLED SO THAT WE RECEIVE A DW ALLOCATION OF POUNDS 50,000 (A THIRD OF LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATION) AND OUR ODA ADDITION IS CORRESPONDINGLY REDUCED?
MCLAREN
YYYY
1
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