TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 128

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BRITAIN'S OTHER FOREIGN POLICY

Traditional view of Foreign Policy: Congress of Vienna

Treaty of Versailles leading to NATO/SALT/CSCE/MBFR. The

Diplomat as polished negotiator working in smart embassies

and attending lavish parties a concept which dies hard. The

realities even of this "mainstream" diplomacy rather different.

The rough side of the coin totally different some examples:

Governor of Falklands tramping round rural

hamlets keeping in touch with people;

Turks and Caicos Ministers threatening

to place "our man" under house arrest;

Anguillans taking pot shots at the

virtually unprotected house of our

Commissioner;

Drawing up constitutions for Seychelles

which are subsequently torn up;

Coping with legal and illegal immigration

from China into Hong Kong;

The Banabans;

Diego Garcia.

All facets of "Britain's other Foreign Policy".

Some aspects

hit the headlines but always "2 day wonders". For many at

FCO and remote territories still dependent on us a permanent

us,a

reality demanding as much skill of foresight and negotiation

as more fashionable problems.

/Britain