TNAG-1117-FCO40-1391-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 202

CONFIDENTIAL

Assistants in CAFD

EAD

MCAD

NAD

SAD

SAfD

SEAD

SED

SPD

WAD

WIAD

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WIAD -nopy.

re Spt 79

Lavish Lous 18 fake pt.

Sussex lust. of N. Ridle & MPs

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ECD (E)

ERD

cc:

PS/Mr Luce PS/PUS

Sir A Acland

Mr Day

Sir L Allinson

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Planning Staff

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UN Department B, ODA

TH.KG 025/1

POSSIBLE COMMONWEALTH SEMINAR

BBR

сп

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CODE 18.77

1.

Mr Luce recently discussed with Sir Bernard Braine, DL, MP, who is Chairman of the Commonwealth Sub-Committee of the Conservative Foreign Affairs Committee, the idea of holding a seminar on the Commonwealth. This would, we understand, be under the auspices of Conservative Central Office. Sir Bernard subsequently sought the views of the other officers of the Sub-Committee and has now written to Mr Luce (copy attached) giving his and their preliminary reactions. We have submitted an interim reply from Mr Luce promising considered comments. would be grateful for your help in their formulation.

I

2. My own first reactions to Sir Bernard's ideas are as follows:

On content: I have reservations about Sir Bernard's

(a)

(b)

(c)

subject headings and wonder whether a better agenda might be:

(a) The Future of the Commonwealth

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

membership (a look at the remaining dependencies and the present and final pattern of membershin) areas of interest (to include North/South)

political and functional co-operation.

Britain's role

On speakers: I see no problems about drawing speakers, perhaps including Mr Ramphal, from the Commonwealth Secretariat or from amongst Commonwealth representatives in London. We shall have some further, non-official names to suggest, eg Derek Ingram, Editor of the Gemini News Service, who might make a useful contribution. But I would meanwhile be grateful for ERD and ECD(E)'s suggestions on possible speakers on North/South and Lomé matters;

On timing: this should preferably be in the second half of March (or at least before Easter, which this year falls on 11 April).

The costs of the seminar and the pamphlet, will presumably be borne

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