Small nations use sovereignty

PERHAPS symbolic of the type of leverage that diplomatic presence can give is that the conference took place in a centre built with help from China to Barbados, while in neighbouring St Vincent, a highly prominent Tiawanese mission helps with road building proj ects. St Vincent also votes on the International Whaling Commission for

allowing Japan to continue with “scien tific” whaling.

Tokyo sends a cheque with its orders.

In the absence of a “Soviet” card to play, and effectively abandoned by former colonial powers, one can hardly complain of small nations use of one of their few assets their sovereignty to help develop. □