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4.
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However when
unnecessarily soft-hearted towards his juniors.
convinced of the need to assert discipline he does so with telling
On the whole I think he has developed
effect and great fairness.
just the right blend of good humour, dedication, tolerance and
scepticism which his job here has required. He has a high degree
of intellectual honesty, has been utterly loyal and dependable".
6.
Mr. Davidson's appointment to Brunei since 1975 has been
rather less successful.
The department bore some of the brunt of
his tendency to fuss and there were doubts as to whether he carried
out instructions with the Sultan as firmly as might have been desired.
Nevertheless Mr. Murray concluded that Mr. Davidson had "fo]"
for his Brunei clients, was obviously liked by them
Mr. Murray felt however that
Mr. Davidson was not particularly intelligent and did not have the
determination or clear-sightedness to be tough when toughness was
needed. "Resilience is more his line". Given his general
character and attributes Mr. Murray did not see him rising alve
Grade 4 but commented that he had shown some good qualities in
a tricky, independent post. Mr. Murray suggested that he should
be borne in mind for the next Grade 4 Colonial Governorship to
fall vacant. "This is the sort of post in which, given his post
experience (including the Navy), he could serve HMG well".
7.
The pros and cons of Mr. Davidson's suitability for the
Governorship of the British Virgin Islands would seem to be
rather equally balanced: his record as a whole suggests tha he
ought to be able to do the job competently but the most recent
evidence is rather less favourable,
What is however clear, at least
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