TNAG-1117-FCO40-1391-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 176

Mr Barltrop, CCD

Sep. Copies Assistants in CCD

To:

NTD

CONFIDENTIAL

MVD

Finance Dept

WIAD

Reference................

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HKG 025/1

2 € JA

1

4

SPD

SAD

SAND

SED

SAFD

WAD

SEAD

EAD

CAFD

NAD

APD

ECD (E)

(para 6 of minute)

ERD EESD

(para 11 (iv) of draft)

cc PS/Mr Luce

Mr Day

Sir L Allinson

Mr Mallaby, Planning Staff

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A

B

BRITAIN'S INTEREST IN THE COMMONWEALTH

1. I attach the first draft of a paper on this subject, as commissioned at the DUSS' meeting on 20 October in the light of Sir Robert Armstrong's letter of 15 October 1981 to the PUS. The draft takes into account points made at the DUSS' meeting, other minuting, and a number of points which I have discussed separately with CCD. As the paper is intended for Ministers, it does not attempt to go into all aspects of the Commonwealth relationship in detail, but concentrates on the pros and cons of Commonwealth membership to Britain and on the scope for changes in our favour. If it is thought that certain aspects of the paper need to be examined in more detail, they could perhaps be covered in annexes, in order to keep the main paper to a reasonable length.

2. I am not circulating the draft at this stage outside the FCO/ODA, though the PUS's letter of 22 October to Sir Robert Armstrong obliges us to discuss it in draft with the Cabinet Office and the Treasury. I presume we shall also need to consult other Departments about the recommendations for less frequent education, health and agriculture meetings.

3. The recommendation for a reduced UK subscription to the Commonwealth Secretariat is taken from the Treasury paper enclosed with Mr Slater's letter of 8 December 1981 to me. I am aware that it is a question that has been considered before, and that it has disadvantages, but since it is a specific recommendation of the Treasury paper I thought it should be included. If we decide to drop the recommendation we shall need to explain why when we circulate a later draft to the Treasury.

CODE 18.77

CONFIDENTIAL

/4.