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THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that we had been lobbying
vigorously in Commonwealth, as well as foreign, capitals, and he had
taken up the question himself during his recent tour of Africa. There
was now more support for our point of view in Commonwealth countries.
But it was one thing to have the support of Commonwealth Governments
and another to ensure that the United Nations representatives of the
countries concerned followed their instructions in spite of pressure
from the other Afro-Asians countries.
In discussion it was generally agreed that most Commonwealth countries had shown weakness in failing to support the principle of
self-determination for Gibraltar. Only the old Commonwealth had been helpful. The United States had agreed not to vote against us;
so far there was no indication that they would vote in our favour, but efforts were being made to achieve this. Lord Caradon was already
working hard for an anodyne resolution in New York. Should the
debate in the United Nations end with a resolution demanding that we hand over the colony to Spain, we should have no choice but to ignore
it. A recommendation for mediation by a third party would be equally unacceptable, since we would not be able to guarantee that the mediator
might not advocate the cession co Gibraltar to Spain.
The Committee
Approved OPD(67) 82.
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