TNAG-1143-FCO40-1423-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 59

Annex 'C' lists hose which opposed us. Annex 'A' contairs

5.

names, Annex 'B'

Annex 'C'

Any selective inviting of members of the Diplomatic Corps

by restricting the invitations to those at Annex 'A' is likely

to lead to some resentment and offence. This is particularly

likely to be the case with countries which are generally well-

disposed to us but which failed to come out unambiguously on

the UK side, such as Thailand and Saudi Arabia, and with

countries of the same regional group which receive different

treatment, especially if the representative not invited con-

siders that his country has given all the support which we

could reasonably expect. There could also be problems for

countries which we would like to invite to be represented, but

whose representatives might not wish to demonstrate in public

by attending the Service the support which his country had

However, this is a less serious problem, as the

provided.

representative could plead an alternative engagement.

6.

To avoid these difficulties, either all members of the

C

Corps should be invited, or none at all. The former is not an

It would be quite inappropriate to

attractive alternative.

However, the

invite Panama and the other countries in Annex 'C' to be

represented at the Service, and for the countries in Annex 'B'

it would be invidious to ask their representatives to make a

public demonstration of their support for us which they had

not been willing to make during the conflict.

invitations need not be issued individually. Instead there

could be a general notice to the Diplomatic Corps announcing

that the Service will take place, that a certain number of

places have been reserved for Heads of Mission, and inviting

those who so wish to apply for them. This would avoid our

having to make the judgment between those who supported us

sufficiently to be invited and those who did not. However, it

/would