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Not all Commonwealth countries had signed such agreements, nor the United Nations Convention on Human Rights. It was hoped that many more would have done so by the time of the next CHOGM.

Continuing, the PRIME MINISTER said that the debate on South Africa had predictably revealed much hypocrisy. The expected differences of view had surfaced. The Australian and Canadian rime Ministers had taken the lead in pressing for additional Financial sanctions against South Africa. They had been taken abok by the debt rescheduling agreement negotiated between the

mercial banks and South Africa. She had pointed out that the e responsibility of the banks was to their shareholders and depositors. This meant taking all possible action to recover debts. Under the agreement $1.5 billion of existing debt would be rescheduled over a 3 1/2 year period. A number of countries had pressed both for tightening economic and financial sanctions and removing export credit cover. On four specific points Britain had disagreed with the final Communique, which the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary had negotiated with great skill. Britai

Britain had firmly expressed its disagreement on these paragraphs but hot been given the opportunity to explain its position. Hendead been decided to issue the British statement, setting Britain's stand on these points. The hypocrisy of the disasion on South Africa had been vividly illustrated by the example of one African Head of Government who had told her that if he extra sanctions agreed in the Communique came into effect this would have damaging consequences for his county Hence he would like to request extra economic assistance/ Britain. In the debate she had set out the substantial contribution made by Britain to help improve the situation in South Africa. Those funds which Britain had decided not to spend a monitoring agency for South Africa and participation the Commonwealth observers' Group in Namibia would be spent alleviating hunger and poverty in South Africa. It was paradoxical that those governments advocating sanctions would effectively be contributing to increased hunger and deprivation in South Africa. Nevertheless, the discussion on South Africa had not been as unpleasant as at the Nassau CHO. A number of African Heads of Government, including Mgeria's, had expressed warm gratitude to Britain for its military and economic assistance.

Continuing, the PRIME MINISTER said that there had been worrying developments over Namibia. A number of third world Cemmonwealth countries were putting forward a resolution in the

Nations which would tie the hands of the United Nations Special Representative, Mr Ahtisaari. Mr Ahtisaari's task was to certify whether the elections had been free and fair. Amber of African governments were now worried that the South Wes Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) would not get their expected two-thirds majority. One Head of Government had

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