CODE 18-77
SS 10/76
Ascos
Mr AJ Collins
Mr JAB Stewart (HK&GD)
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Reference.
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DEPENDENT TERRITORIES : CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1.
I have just received this copy of the draft submission circulated under cover of Mr Stewart's minute of 29 April to Mr Bickford. Governor Belize has given it as his view that there could well be civil disturbances in Belize, particularly in Belize City, if he were to commute the death penalty on Leopold Jones. At this delicate period in our efforts to bring Belize to independence we would deprecate anything which risks upsetting the balance. Whatever HMG's policy may be on the imposition or commutation of the death penalty, I believe our other interests would be best served by allowing local judicial procedures to take their course.
2. I have some sympathy with the general argument deployed in paragraph 7 of the draft submission, but not in respect of the death penalty and certainly not when applied to the territories, like Belize, which remain dependent for reasons beyond their control.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
17 MAX Gii
5 May 1977
нка 380/1
Isling
MB Collins
Mexico & Caribbean Dept
CC
WIAD PDTD
Mr Bickford, Legal Advisers
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13