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CONFIDENTIAL
3.
Deputy Senior Officer to a reserve fleet group and held direct
administrative responsibility for 1,000 men and 30 ships.
When
he joined the Diplomatic Service in 1960 the CSSB found him "most conscientious, likeable, determined and hard-working (passing the Bar finals in his spare time does him great credit)".
Mr. Davidson went to Trinidad in 1962 immediately after the Colony's independence. His High Commissioner (Sir N. Costar) reported that "especially taking into account his comparatively short experience in
CRO service, Jim Davidson developed magnificently during the
period when he was Acting Deputy High Commissioner .....".
was given an outstanding report by his High Commissioner, when he
left Trinidad in 1966.
5.
He
After two years as Assistant Head of Defence Department
Mr. Davidson went as Head of Chancery in Phnom Penh. He was there
reported to be "meticulous about organisation, responsible about
man-management and runs a tight ship. At the same time he thinks
a lot and has in my experience, evolved a sound and penetrating
political judgement. His vices are perhaps a too kind heart and a
slight tendency to fussiness though this is not combined with any
tendency to flap". Mr. Davidson went to Dacca on promotion in
January 1972 and was in charge there for the first three months.
At the end of his first year his High Commissioner wrote of him that
"he is a sterling character who has been an undoubted success as a
newly-promoted DHC in a new, difficult and initially chaotic post".
Mr. Golds went on to comment that though Mr. Davidson had doubtless
previously had "quite an impressive quarterdeck manner" he had consciously modified this in the Diplomatic Service to the extent
that "he sometimes gives the impression of being exaggeratedly
diffident or deferential towards equals or superiors or
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