CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 323

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THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that we had been lobbying

vigorously in Commonwealth, as well as foreign, capitals, and he had

taken up the question himself during his recent tour of Africa. There

was now more support for our point of view in Commonwealth countries.

But it was one thing to have the support of Commonwealth Governments

and another to ensure that the United Nations representatives of the

countries concerned followed their instructions in spite of pressure

from the other Afro-Asians countries.

In discussion it was generally agreed that most Commonwealth countries had shown weakness in failing to support the principle of

self-determination for Gibraltar. Only the old Commonwealth had been helpful. The United States had agreed not to vote against us;

so far there was no indication that they would vote in our favour, but efforts were being made to achieve this. Lord Caradon was already

working hard for an anodyne resolution in New York. Should the

debate in the United Nations end with a resolution demanding that we hand over the colony to Spain, we should have no choice but to ignore

it. A recommendation for mediation by a third party would be equally unacceptable, since we would not be able to guarantee that the mediator

might not advocate the cession co Gibraltar to Spain.

The Committee

Approved OPD(67) 82.

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