Northern (N): Soviet Union (NS). Invitation to A Member of Embassy of Soviet Union to Speak about Civil Defence in The Soviet Union at A Meeting of The Hampshire Association of Civil Defence Instructors

A file of correspondence concerning civil defence exchanges between Britain and the Soviet Union. The documents discuss a request from the Hampshire Association of Civil Defence Instructors for a member of staff from the Soviet embassy to come to a meeting of the association to lecture on civil defence. The documents also cover the view of the Foreign Office that, with this request, the association are "embarking on a rather dangerous course", as this invitation would "present the Soviet embassy with a splendid opportunity for propaganda"; and the Foreign Office's conclusion that, as advising the association to withdraw their invitation could harm Anglo-Soviet relations, the talk should be allowed to go ahead.