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K Wray 3 Secretariat (Overseas) (Commitments)
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 MAR 1988
Date
March 1988
Dear Robin,
DEST
INDEX
ER
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
CONSERVATION IN BIOT
Dive Bough Velephoed
Ja
Lignes with the Correct's of this latter
√2413
1.
Thank you for your letter of 26 February 1988, which covered an extract from a WWF report. I am not entirely clear as to the status of the report: does HMG have to make a formal response, and who has asked you for comments? We should certainly be careful not to take this report out of context: it is, by itself, simply another piece of paper from a pressure group, and only 2% of it is concerned with БІОТ.
2. I would certainly agree that we should pour cold water on recommendations 1 and 2 if and when they are raised in the appropriate international fora. I do not think that we want to get involved in Serial 3 either. We can, however, always claim to be considering it; the non-availability of funds will, I fear, militate against any action. I would add that I find it somewhat incongruous that a conservation group should be proposing the "clearance" (presumably by shooting) of donkeys; and if there should be any unfavourable publicity on the report I think that we might place a little emphasis on this.
3. Turning to recommendation 4, it would, I think, be unnecessary to issue packs to everyone on Diego Garcia; but the RNLO might review the information provided so those permitted to leave the base area. As you say, the principal threat is from visiting yachtsmen; and you will perhaps wish to consider making some information availabl to them.
A.
Finally, I agree that a seabird survey might not cause us undue difficulty; but I think our attitude should be only that if a fully funded proposal is put to us we will consider it on its merits. We would certainly wish the party to be as small as possible; and we would need to vet the members to ensure that none of them were journalists. If any pressure should build up behind proposals we find unacceptable, we might perhaps concede with good grace that a Service expedition might do the work.
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