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Permanent Under-Secretary
I Kinne (o.r.)
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You asked to be brought in on the briefing for the debate on the dependent territories due to take place in the House of Lords on 12 January.
2.
I now attach draft sections of a speech for Lord Lothian in reply to Lord Shepherd's Motion. After a factual introduction, the draft contains sections on management, development aid and technical assistance, budgetary aid and the B.E.C. These sections are based on briefs prepared by the departments concerned and the ODA, though these have been fairly freely adapted and amalgamated to produce what I hope is now a fairly coherent line of thought.
3. Migration and Visa Department are preparing a short defensive brief on emigration, and the geographical departments are preparing short factual briefs on the individual dependent territories which will be available in case particular questions are asked. There is no attempt to deal with the external political questions, such as relations between Spain and Gibraltar, Argentina and the Falkland Islands, etc., since these are expected to come outside the scope of the debate. Short defensive briefs on these subjects could, however, be prepared if required.
4. It is understood that Lord Shepherd intends to propose the setting up of a review body of two or three eminent people including "a colonial Governor of ability and distinction" to look at the machinery in London and abroad through which the administration of the dependent territories is carried out. If the general lines of the draft speech are approved, I will prepare a short general summing up section which could make it clear that HMG did not consider the establishment of an outside review body to be appropriate for this purpose.
Mr.Renwick
Mr.Godden
Sir L.Monson Miss Emery
ENC.
5 January 1971
Mr.Watt Mr.Wade-Gery Mr. Webster Mr. Scanlon
D A Scott
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