}
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Comments on the Spanish Document
The first step would be to let the Spaniards have
some comments on the proposals contained in the document
given to Sir J lassan. A summary of these is attached.
These proposals are basically unacceptable to us. I
D
attach a paper rejecting them in language designed for Spanish
eyes. I see no reason why Sir J Russell should not be
instructed to hand such a document over by 23 August.
would be preferable first to obtain the comments on it of
Sir J Russell, the Governor, Gibraltar and Sir J Hassan.
An Eventual Solution
It
E
8. But this would not satisfy the Spaniards. We should not
be returning their ball, but driving it into the net. Only
substantive proposals from the British side are likely to be
effective in maintaining the dialogue. We should then quickly
enter the phase of negotiation which we have so long sought
to avoid. But I do not believe that we can any longer play
for time without real damage to our interests.
Sr Lopez Bravo
suggested on 9 May that we should consider acknowledging
Spanish sovereignty over the Isthmus. As directed by the
Secretary of State, we have studied this carefully. I believe
that such a partial solution would have every disadvantage
of a complete solution and none of the advantages. Indeed,
since it would not satisfy the Spaniards except as an interim
measure we might well be obliged, if we were to reach agreement
with them, to make greater concessions over the Isthmus than
over Gibraltar as a whole; these could involve abandoning
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/absolute