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SUBJECT: FUTURE STATUS OF OUR MISSION IN PANAMA
Problem
1. Whether to reduce Panama to "small mission" status.
Recommendation
2. That Panama becomes a "small mission" before the next changeover of Ambassadors.
Background and Argument
3.
When the Inspectors visited Panama in June 1979 they discussed with the Ambassador the possibility of the Embassy being converted to a "small mission" with 2 UK based staff and probably 4 LE staff (in comparison with the
At current establishment of 5 UK based and 13 LE staff). that time the Ambassador did not think that the post could be converted to "small mission" status except in the long term. The Inspectors, however, felt that by the end of 1980 it should be reasonably clear whether the new arrangements in the anal Zone were going to work and whether the potential then seen for an increase in British trade would be realised. The Chief Inspector so informed the Ambassador in October. Subsequently the Ambassador has said that there is no local reason to delay until late 1980 any decision as to whether Panama should be reduced to small mission status. If such a reduction were to happen there would be clear advantage in it being before a new Ambassador were appointed, as it is better if a: new Ambass- ador knows from the start that he is taking on a "small mission" rather than having a mission subsequently reduced
under him.
4. The arguments for Fanama becoming a small mission are
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