Mr. Carter
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference.....
H
4/16
The Gibraltarians are pressing for what they call an indisoluble link with Britain. What they mean by this (as emerged when the Gibraltar Ministers were in London a fortnight ago) is a link dissoluble only by them and not by us.
It might almost be called un-free association for Britain. Although the suggestion presents obvious difficulties, the present state of feeling in Parliament and in Gibraltar itself resulting from the increasing Spanish pressure on Gibraltar made it necessary for Ministers to undertake to consider the suggestion seriously and urgently.
2.
In the first instance the Law Officers are being consulted because of implications vis-a-vis the Treaty of Utrecht and the International Court. When the Law Officers' Opinion is available it is proposed to submit it to Ministers here and in the Foreign Office under a covering political assessment. At that stage it will be necessary to take account not only of the Gibraltar/Spanish situation but of other disputed British dependent territories.
3.
In anticipation of the Law Officers' reply, Ι have had a shot at a first draft of the political assessment and I attach a copy. I should be grateful to know whether you think anything should be added in Section D about Hong Kong. I am taking up British Honduras with Mr. Jerrom.
IS. Be
(J.S. Bennett)
24 May, 1968
REF.
Kon
CONFIDENTIAL