TNAG-1143-FCO40-1423-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 41

the forthright support of New Zealand to the vituperative antics of Panama. To draw the line at any particular point based upon the degree of support which the countries have given to us will inevitably give rise to problems over border- line cases. If invitations were sent to representatives of all the countries which had showed us some public support, the total would be over 50. Some of those invited might not wish

ke

to attract¿publicity that attendance could bring; some of those

omitted would feel that their country had done as much to

support Britain as some of those invited and would take offence

at not being invited themselves.

6.

We could invite the entire diplomatic corps. This is not at all attractive; apart from problems of seating capacity, it would be out of keeping with the occasion to invite representatives of countries which had consistently and offensively opposed Britain and supported Argentina. To invite no diplomatic representatives at all would in many ways be the most satisfactory solution. No other country provided troops to fight alongside British forces (except for the Gurkhas which, as a constituent part of the British army, are a special case). We could describe the Service as a purely national occasion and if necessary explain the decision to the representatives of those countries which had most strongly supported us. However, the view of the Prime Minister is that not to invite any diplomatic representatives would fail to acknowledge the very real support which some countries have provided.

7.

There is no easy way out in inviting all the members of some recognised group or groups. NATO now includes Spain. Within the Commonwealth India was unhelpfully neutral and Grenada openly supported Argentina. In any case, if we invited a large group of countries, the omission of some who

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