TNAG-0592-FCO40-725-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-Indian-Ocean-Department-1976 — Page 7

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CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Winchester

Mr. Newart du tilton

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Reference HX 415/1

M. Milton

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CONSOLIDATION OF GIBRALTAR WORK IN SED

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16:11.76

1. Would you please refer to the recent minuting on this subject resting with Mr Stanley's minute of 11 November.

2. You will recall that in my minute of 9 November to Mr Baker I mentioned that my original submission had been stopped at the level of the PUS and referred back to the Chief Clerk so that he could put up two submissions, one dealing with the administrative aspects and a shorter one dealing with the political issues involved for decision by Ministers. Although Mr Neilson sent us a copy of the draft submission to be signed by the Deputy Chief Clerk on the "transfer of Gibraltar internal section from Gibraltar and General Department to Southern European Department" I understand that in fact this submission did not issue so that paragraph IV(b) of the brief circulated with Mr Sutherland's minute of 17 September stating that the PUS has already approved the transfer of "General" from G&GD is not strictly correct: in fact the PUS has, so far as I understand it, not been asked to make a decision on any of the matters affecting this issue.

3.

However the draft submission circulated by Mr Neilson referred to above did envisage that this Department would submit separately on the political aspects involved in cluding the timing of the move which everyone agreed would depend on the internal situation in Gibraltar. In my opinion there is no doubt that the political considerations are the ones of importance and if we are going to break the present log jam over the inspection of this Department I suggest we proceed as suggested in Mr Stanley's minute of 11 November and that you and I get together to produce a submission for a decision by Ministers: if the decision by Ministers supports such a move then it will be easy to slot in the administrative changes involved.

15 November 1976

c.c.

Mr Stanley

Mr Sutherland

Mr Farrar, PPD

CONFIDENTIAL

E G Lewis

Gibraltar and General Department