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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth records from 1973 made public

31 January 2004

The Commonwealth Secretariat today placed formerly classified documents up to 1973 in the public domain. A total of 91 files have been added to those already available to the public. The records released today include:

  • Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Ottawa, 1973
  • Minutes of Meetings of the Rhodesia Sanctions Committee and other files relating to the Rhodesia crisis, including aid to Zambia
  • Files relating to the Report of the Work Study Group on the Commonwealth Secretariat

Bangladesh and the Bahamas- membership of the Commonwealth

 The papers include 22 files from the Private Office of Arnold Smith, the first Commonwealth Secretary-General. These include records of conversations between the Secretary-General and various Commonwealth government and non-government representatives. Specific subjects include:

  • Official tours and visits by the Secretary-General
  • The European Economic Communityand its impact on the Commonwealth, in particular association/trade agreements with the enlarged EEC
  • Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting, London, 1972
  • Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Ottawa, 1973

This is the eighth year that records have been made public. In 1997, the Secretariat adopted the practice of releasing confidential Commonwealth shared records after thirty years.

  Note to editors

Secretariat files closed in 1973 may contain documents from previous years. To download a complete list of files available click here.  The files are available for viewing in the Secretariat's Library and Archives at Marlborough House and appointments may be made with Matti Watton, Archivist Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6167; Fax: +44 (0)20 7747 6168; E-mail: m.watton@commonwealth.int.

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int