-1
Arch 1970
Conservative Commonwealth & Overseas Counc.
FUR CIRCULATION
Ref:
CC00 275
OVERSEAS ISSUES FACING THE NEXT CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT
THE DEPENDENCIES
Prepared for the 1970 Conference by an ad hoc working Group under the Chairmanship of Mr. Maurice Chandler. (see also APPENDIX I attached)
INTRO
ION
This report covers all the territories for which the United Kingdom Govern- ment still exercises some direct responsibility, with the exception of Rhodesia, which, although still a colony, is obviously in a category of its own. These territories, thirty-six in all, listed in APPENDIX 11, include all the remaining Colonies, one Protectorate, one Condominium, two Protected States, six associated States and the Gulf States. The latter acquired their relationship with the United Kingdom through series of treaties and (as in the case of the Associated States also) Britain's responsibilities are limited to the field of external
relations and defence.
They range in population from Hong Kong which , including the leased terri- tories, has a population of approximately 4,000,000 to Pitcairn with less than 100
Few of these Dependencies are mainland territories, the majority being islanu: or groups of very small islands, often separated by many miles of sea. These problems of smallness, isolation and distance have in the past been important factors in many cases in halting further progress towards self-government; the development of air travel has by no leans removed these limitations. Few of the
territories have major economic assets; almost all are dependent upon one crop or product; many are over populated; a l'ew are beset with racial problems. These other factors tou make it difficult, and often impossible, for many of the terri-
tories to be economically viable now or in the foreseeable future. The smallness
of their populations presents the difficulty of providing locally-qualified
administrative civil servants, as well as legislators and ministers. Most of thes
Dependencies have further specialised roblems of their own.
Principles governing Conservative Policy
United Kingdom policies in this field are governed by two main considerations.
The first is to take account of the interests and welfare of the people in the territories, which must remain a primary consideration, (UN Charter, Article 73
requests recognition for, "the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount"; in sub-section B constitutional progress is in
ted as being "to develop self-government, to take; due account of the political
*Under its terms of reference, the Council or its froups may from time to time prepare reports and, if so decided, publish them. Such reports are, however, a contribution Lowaras discussion, and do MT represent official policy.