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being once again in the midst of parliamentarians. Mr Muldoon concentrated on the world's economic problems and "the need to help the helpless".
7. The conference agenda (see Annex B) provided the customary mix of politico-economic and parliamentary subjects. Pride of place was given to "The Energy Crisis". Parliamentarians from
the 'new' Commonwealth naturally laid great stress on the damage done to developing countries by the spiral in oil prices; and, while they argued from this for improved aid terms from the developed countries, there was at least some criticism directed at OPEC members for what they had done and were still doing to the world economy. On the more positive side, much emphasis was placed on the need to develop alternative sources of energy, preferably renewable sources. A rather dull debate was enlivened at one stage by a vigorous exchange between two British MPs (Mr Leo Abse, Labour, and Mr Ronald Brown, Labour) on the pros and cons of developing nuclear energy.
8.
"The Refugee Problem", originally envisaged as a subject for panel discussion, had been promoted to the plenary agenda because of the developments earlier in the year in SE Asia; and, appropriately, the lead speaker was from Malaysia their Minister of Energy and delegation leader. He called on the Commonwealth to galvanise world opinion over the plight of the refugees in SE Asia, and listed various measures which he believed would help bring about a solution of the problem, including an acceleration of the international programme for permanent resettlement of the 'boat people'. Mr Blaker, making the first of his two prepared speeches, spoke of the aid given by Britain, both financially and through the resettlement of some thousands of refugees from Hong Kong. Peaceful solutions to the problems of SE Asia were, he said, essential. A speech by the delegate from Hong Kong, describing the nature and scale of the problems created for the territory by the 'boat people', was listened to with great attention. Mr Pavitt, one of 5 members of the UK delegation who had visited the colony on their way to New Zealand, supplemented this usefully.
9.
While the emphasis in this debate was inevitably on SE Asia, representatives from Cyprus, Sri Lanka, India and Botswana used the opportunity to speak of their own countries' particular problems in the 'refugee' field, with the Sri Lankan dwelling on his country's intercommunal difficulties and the Cypriot attacking the Turks and Turkish Cypriots along familiar lines.
10. On the second afternoon, the conference turned to consider "The security of the smaller countries of the Commonwealth" a subject which had been discussed in a useful panel discussion at the 1978 annual conference and which the CPA Executive Council had since concluded was worthy of debate in a plenary session. It certainly attracted a long list of speakers, a good proportion of whom came from "the smaller countries"; and the representatives from the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar made good use of the oppor- tunity to explain their respective cases and urge Commonwealth support. The Falkland representative spoke particularly effect- ively, and was warmly applauded when he sat down - as was also the Gibraltar delegate. The Turks & Caicos delegate (a Minister) used his speech to criticise the British Government for, allegedly,
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