Leavtng Uganda
So the total complement of the British High Commission in Uganda has now been reduced to five; and it seems quite impossible for either Her Majesty's Government or any of the East African powers, all of whom profess themselves concerned at the increasingly rampant insanity of Sergeant Amin, to assert either influence or control over an increasingly critical situation. There are, further, still some British interests, and some British citizens, in this unhappy country and it is presumably the case that the Government only maintains its representation in Kampala in order the better to protect those interests and people. But it is now surely apparent that no such purpose can be effectively served, whether by a High Commission with a full complement of staff, or one so reduced as the present. The only sensible course, therefore, is to withdraw our diplomatic personnel completely, and to advise and encourage British businessmen, teachers and others to follow the same course. Meanwhile, it is clearly the case that, even in the chaotic conditions of modern Africa a regime such as Amin's can hardly last for very much longer. All the neighbouring powers, and especially the Government of Tanzania, have, in self-protection, bent encouraging ears to dissident Ugandans in the past, and Britain would be well advised to offer them such counsel as she can.
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