Gibraltar was to observe the referendum on sovereignty; the Committee of 24 declined the invitation because of their support for Spain's claim. None of the other requests by the Committee of 24 for visiting missions were agreed to by the UK.
PART II
UNITED NATIONS VISITS TO DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
8. The following brief notes indicate considerations that should be taken into account in invitations to any United Nations body to visit a particular Dependent Territory, or which will need to be borne in mind should any United Nations body request permission to make a visit.
1
Belize
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2.
Sovereignty is claimed by Guatemala and there is a British garrison stationed in Belize as a deterrent to Guatemalan aggression. HMG and Belize share the aim of independence for the territory. It is hoped that discussions with Guatemala will resume shortly and a visiting mission would not be helpful while discussions are in prospect or in progress. A mission could, in some circumstances, be useful at a later stage.
Bermuda
Enjoys an advanced Ministerial Constitution not far short of internal self-government. The views of the Premier and his Cabinet on the desirability of a visiting mission would have to be given very careful consideration. The existence of the US military base and the Anglo/US agreement for it could provide contentious material for the Committee and it would be wise to give the Americans advance warning of any intention to invite or permit a visiting mission. The tax haven facilities and the income gap between the rich expatriates and the relatively poor indigenous population (who are far better off than others e.g. the Associated States) can be argued either to be of benefit to the Island and its economy or not. The Opposition Party is for independence. It complains that a minimum residence qualifi- cation for inclusion on the voters roll prevents it from winning an election. It would probably put this view to a visiting mission.
3. British Antarctic Territory
Claimed in part by Argentina and Chile. A Treaty of all claimants and other interested States signed in 1961 provides a framework for "international scientific co-operation".
USSR do not make or recognise any claims to territorial sovereignty in the Antarctic. There are no local inhabitants and a UN Mission should be discouraged.
4. British Indian Ocean Territory
BIOT consists of the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches, which formerly were part of Seychelles and the Chagos Archipelago,
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/formerly