TNAG-1260-FCO40-1600-Briefings-for-Ministers-and-FCO-officials-on-the-future-of-H-1983 — Page 6

CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN POLICY: BRITAIN'S GLOBAL INTERESTS AND

PRIORITIES

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1. The purpose of all foreign policy, except where it

is avowedly altruistic, is to promote the security,

economic health and well-being of the people in whose

Some foreign policy initiatives

name it is conducted.

can directly extend economic opportunities, while

others have to be tailored so as not to overextend

economic resources.

2. Britain's international tasks can be divided into

those which we undertake jointly with others and those

which belong to Britain alone.

Joint Tasks

3. The overriding priority is to prevent world war

while protecting and promoting our democratic values.

This requires adequate defences, a determined public

posture, a coherent Western Alliance, the containment

of local or regional crises and an overall relationship

between East and West which controls friction and

prevents misunderstandings, especially in periods of

crisis. Sustained efforts in the various arms control

negotiations have an important part, to play in this

process, not least because of the need to ensure that

CONFIDENTIAL

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