| Description | A suggestion that a small delegation from the Royal Society visit Latin America was discussed at meetings of the Society's International Relations Committee during 1967, and by the Foreign Secretary (Thompson) and other Officers of the Society with Professor Carlos Chagas, the permanent delegate of Brazil at UNESCO. Thompson also consulted several Fellows and others with first hand knowledge of Latin America. On the basis of these discussions and consultations the Officers proposed that the delegations should visit Brazil and Mexico. Accordingly arrangements were made for a delegation comprising the President (P M S Blackett), the Biological Secretary ( A A Miles), the Foreign Secretary, two Vice Presidents (G B R Feilden and R D Keynes) and the Deputy Executive Secretary ( R J W Keay) to visit Brazil, 10-24 August and Mexico, 24 August - 4 September 1968. In June 1968 when arrangements for Brazil and Mexico were well advanced the British Ambassador in Cuba inquired through the Foreign Office if members of the delegation could spend a few days in Cuba. Thompson and Feilden agreed, travelling from Mexico to Havana on 2 September and returning to Mexico City on 6 September. |