CONFIDENTIAL LOCSEN
127714
MDADAN 3988
MAKERS IN AUSTRALIA DOING THE SAME THING HERE. I HOPE OUR MINISTERS WILL ARGUE STRONGLY THAT THE BALANCE OF INTEREST FOR BRITAIN IS CLEARLY IN FAVOUR OF LEAVING THE ESSENTIALS OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS ALONE, AND THUS CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE MORE RATHER THAN FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO VISIT BRITAIN. THE RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED WOULD SEND A MISERABLE SIGNAL ABOUT OUR ATTITUDES.
5. FINALLY THERE ARE SURELY STRONG GROUNDS FOR RESISTING THE HO PROPOSAL TO UNDERTAKE A 'CONSULTATION' OF DOMESTIC OPINION MAINLY, IT SEEMS, TO DAMP DOWN CONTROVERSY WHEN THE NEW RESTRICTIONS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY ANNOUNCED, AND WITH NO SUGGESTION THAT THE DECISION MIGHT BE INFLUENCED BY BRITISH PUBLIC OPINION AS EXPRESSED IN THE CONSULTATION. I ASSUME THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT MINISTERS HAD IN MIND WHEN PROMISING MORE OPEN GOVERNMENT. AND THE PROPOSAL NOT, REPEAT NOT, TO CONSULT COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS BEFOREHAND SEEMS HARD TO RECONCILE WITH THE IDEA OF A PRIOR DOMESTIC CONSULTATION.
BARDER
YYYY
ADVANCE
2
SPD/HD
N N N N
DISTRIBUTION
2
MVD //HD
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL LOCSEN
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