CONFIDENTIAL
5. FOR (B) ABOVE TO ACHIEVE THE NECESSARY IMPACT IT SHOULD HAVE
A NEW OUTSIDE PERSONALITY AS DIRECTOR WHO COULD BE RELIED ON TO
ACHIEVE RESULTS, AND HE SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY ONE OR TWO MORE
ANTI-FRAUD SPECIALISTS FROM SCOTLAND YARD AT A LOWER LEVEL.
6. I HAVE SEEN PRENDERGAST AND AM SATISFIED HE HAS SUFFICIENT
STEAM TO CREATE AND DIRECT A MORE EFFECTIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT,
AND THAT HE SEES THE JOB IN THE RIGHT WAY. I HAVE CONFIRMED THIS
ESTIMATE OF HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPABILITY WITH THE U.K. HIGH
COMMISSIONER MALTA,
7.
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PRENDERGAST WOULD GLADLY ACCEPT BLAIR-KERR IN THE ROLE AT
PARAGRAPH 2(A) PROVIDED HE HIMSELF HAS A COMPARATIVELY FREE HAND
IN THE MECHANICS OF CREATING AND DIRECTING A UNIT AS IN PARAGRAPH 2(B).
8. UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THIS CAN BE TIED UP UNTIL AFTER MY
RETURN, BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE BLAIR-KERR REPORT, BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AND ROBERTS AND MEMBERS
OF EXCO AND SLEVIN AND SUTCLIFFE, AND BECAUSE I WOULD PREFER TO
CONDUCT THESE SOUNDINGS MYSELF OWING TO THE NEED FOR CONTINUITY.
9. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS DESIRABLE TO ANNOUNCE OUR PROPOSALS
FOR INTENSIFIED ANTI-CORRUPTION OPERATIONS SOON AND TO REDUCE TO
A MINIMUM THE DELAY IN DOING SO AFTER THE SOUNDINGS IN PARAGRAPH 8
HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. IF YOU AGREE MY GENERAL THESIS I THEREFORE THINK WE SHOULD DO WHAT WE CAN NOW, IN CONFIDENCE AND IN ADVANCE OF THE SOUNDINGS, TO ENABLE AN INTENSIFIED UNIT TO START OPERATIONS
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. APART FROM PLANNING I THINK THIS SHOULD
INCLUDE:-
(A) GOING FIRM ON THE PRINCIPLE OF EMPLOYING PRENDERGAST (SEE MY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TELEGRAM).
(B) PUTTING IN A BID FOR ONE OR TWO ANTI-CORRUPTION SPECIALISTS
FROM SCOTLAND YARD VIA THE OFFICE OF THE OVERSEAS POLICE ADVISER
IN THE FCO. THE FINAL ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE AFTER DISCUSSION
BETWEEN SLEVIN AND PRENDERGAST.
ROME!
(C) SLEVIN SHOULD ARRANGE TO MEET PRENDERGAST IN ROME FOR
DISCUSSIONS.
-2- CONFIDENTIAL
/10. THERE IS NOT A
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