e)
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articles in the revised draft with which we are particularly concerned are as follows:
Article 1. The replacement of the words "acting in an international and humanitarian spirit" by "acting in the exercise of its sovereign rights" is an improvement to the extent that it emphasises that the grant of asylum lies with the State and is not a right of the applicant; but it does further limit the effectiveness of the Convention.
Article 2(1)(a) contains unacceptable references to 'apartheid' and colonialism' and the replacement of the words "or for reasons of" by "including" makes these terms no less objectionable
Article 3 The revised wording is an imrovement but the Article still limits to an unacceptable degree, our legal and
traditional powers of discretion over the admission of persons to the United Kingdom.
Article 4 Our objections remain as stated in paragraph 13 (iv) of ICC (72) 139.
Articles 5, 6 and 7 show some improvement.
Article 9 Cur original objections are re-inforced by the replacement of the words "Article 2 or 3" by "this Convention" This Article as it now stands ensures that the whole Convention is entirely subjective and, therefore, virtually unerforceable.
The draft Convention in its present form is improved by the deletion of paragraph 3 of the original Article 1 and the whole of the original Article 3 but the deletion of paragraph 2 (ii) of the original Article 1 is disadvantageous in that, by omission, Contracting States would presumably be obliged to extend the provisions of the Convention to persons seeking asylum for economic reasons.
We understand that the Council of urope will convene a meeting, on the braft Convention on Territorial Asylum, in Paris early in November. Consideration is now being given to HMG's participation at that meeting.
Item 5: Voluntary Funds Accounts for 1975 and Report of the Board of Auditors (A/AC 96/525 and Add 1)
Financial statements are usually noted by the Committee and not discusssed in any detail. The ACABQ had no comments on the Board's report (A/AC 96/525 Add 1) and the accounts are in good order. The following points could be raised should the opportunity arise:
(i)
Cutstanding balances for oblications incurred in 1974 or earlier totalled $2.275m at the end of 1975, the bulk of which cover activities in the Sudan, Uganda, and United Arab Emirates. (A/AC 96/525 pp 34 and 35). It would be interesting to know whether there are special difficulties in these areas impeding project implementation, or whether the figures largely represent accounting balances which could, in fact, be released for other purposes.
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/ (ii)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.