FCO TELNO. 403 TO HONG KONG
5, FOR GIBRALTAR ONLY.
CONFIDENTIAL
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AS YOU ARE AWARE, GIBRALTAR AS A
EUROPEAN TERRITORY FOR WHOSE EXTERNAL RELATIONS BRITAIN IS
RESPONSIBLE, IS ELIGIBLE FOR AUTOMATIC ENTRY TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES UNDER ARTICLE 227(4) OF THE TREATY OF ROME. CONSEQUENTLY
HER POSITION IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE REMAINING
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. IN THIS SITUATION WE NATURALLY ATTACH
IMPORTANCE TO KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH YOU ON THIS QUESTION.
WE BELIEVE THAT YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE ALREADY GIVING ATTENTION TO THE QUESTION OF GIBRALTAR'S FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENLARGED COMMUNITIES, AND IN DUE COURSE YOU WILL NO DOUBT LET US KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
5. FOR FIJI ONLY.
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE LATER THIS
YEAR BY YOUR TERRITORY MAY INVOLVE SOME CHANGE IN THE PROPOSED
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENLARGED COMMUNITIES. WITH A REPRESENTATIVE
STATIONED IN LONDON AFTER INDEPENDENCE, THEY WOULD BE IN A POSITION
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATION
WITH INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
6. TO ALL. IN MAKING THESE PROPOSALS WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING
RIGID OR FORMAL IN MIND. WE SHALL WANT TO LOOK AT OUR ARRANGEMENTS
AGAIN IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, OUR MAIN CONCERN IN MAKING THESE
PROPOSALS IS THAT THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES SHOULD BE FULLY AND
PROMPTLY INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS OF INTEREST TO THEM SO THAT YOU
CAN LET US HAVE THEIR VIEWS.
STEWART
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
E.I.D.
COPIES TO:
U.N.D. (4 COPIES)
W.I.D.
S.W. PAC. D.
P.I.O.D.
HONG KONG D.
G. & S.A.D.
C.C.D.
CONFIDENTIAL