TNAG-0482-FCO40-547-Diplomatic-reports-from-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Ho-1974 — Page 114

Circu Home 'B' 1/74

LRR 13/2

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3 January 19

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PRINTING OF DIPLOMATIC REPORTS

1

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An enquiry carried out recently by Accommodation Services Department, Library and Records Department and Commonwealth Co-ordination Department shows that there are still considerable delays inside the FCO in arranging for the printing of those despatches and other reports which need to be given distribution abroad as well as within Whitehall.

2 Delays of as long as a month between the receipt of papers in political departments and their despatch to Commonwealth Co-ordination Department are not uncommon. I should like Heads of Departments to restore the old procedure whereby copies of despatches and reports thought worth printing should be despatched by desk officers to Commonwealth Co-ordination Department if possible within 24 hours and certainly no later than 3 days after receipt of the original for action. The prompt selection and

circulation of Diplomatic Reports can save much writing

of background material for posts, but to do so the

printed Reports must reach posts while they are still topical.

3

Commonwealth Co-ordination Department will ordinarily be able to decide on a Commonwealth distribution for despatches within 48 hours after receiving them, and

/Library