SECRET
2.
(c)
we may choose a time for doing this very carefully so as to minimise public apprehension and reaction here. The row with the U.K. will be considerable,
but
I should hope would be fairly short- lived so long as the present more satisfactory situation over crime continues and is improved on.
With regard to (b) I sincerely believe
this course to be wrong in practice and principle and not at all to accord with the way the U.K. should discharge its responsibilities to overseas territories. But I reluctantly conclude that it is the only course that in the long term is compatible with constitutional and political realities · assuming no one in real authority is prepared to make a serious attempt to influence opinion in the House of Commons, which I can quite understand they are not.
M
SECRET