TNAG-0436-FCO40-501-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 135

1

ajun Máme memke,

4. Ms Are ghness demasko Jusiz ku

Calle vini

of the Commission in which it behoved all members to express their views. I think that had I done less there would have been a danger of the principle of our right to vote as members being impaired.

9. As I say, it did not come to this but the whole issue does prefigure a problem which is almost certain to

The bussi ens face us at Colombo. My Dutch colleague has heard that

the Chinese are determined to put the Russions on the spot by raising this question of the status of non regional members. Although the duels will be between these 2 major protagonists, the rest of us will be affected and we shall need to have made up our minds about what we should do! My Dutch colleague has recommended to the Hague and has had his recommenda- tion confirmed that the Netherlands delegation should adopt a completely passive position showing themselves without objection/ready to accept whatever final status the regional

members might care to ascribe to the present non regional members. His argument is that his country's only concern with ECAFE is as a vehicle for the disburse- ment of part of Dutch economic assistance and that if they were no longer involved in the organisation they could still use their money happily elsewhere. inclined to a rather more robust policy. I agree that if it came to it and we were faced with determined regional members we should have to accept what they proposed and make the best fit. But although we could no doubt accept a reduced or limited ECAFE presence without any serious effect on our economic interests - I am not here concerned with the argument on development aid grounds - I still feel that we have a, stronger political interest in membership. It asserts our interest in this part of the world; it presumably also underlines the importance we attach to our position as a permanent member of the Security Council and, perhaps more practically, it gives us a position in a forum in which China is likely to be increasingly active.

Abx, & Kind, CAFE

binepts from o

membership.

I am

10. The Office will assess just how important these factors are. I suggest, however, that they add up to a policy which while not leading to our having to be ejected (if it came to it) kicking and screaming, at least projected the message that we valued our membership, thought it in the practical interest both of ourselves and of the regional members and would not wish to leave or have our status down- graded unless it was the clearly expressed wish of the majority of regional members. In other words we would put up a bit of gentlemanly resistance.

If

.}

4

/we did

Page 135Page 136