139
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A GPs250
FM HAMILTON 291510Z
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKG 38071
RECEIVED
- 5 OCT 1977
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
W.
TO PRIORITY FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER PERSONAL
30. 51
REGISTRY Action Taken
све
OP COPY
29 OF 29 SEPTEMBER 1977.
CUR TELNO PERSONAL 26: CAPTIAL PUNISHMENT.
127)
1. I HAVE THIS MORNING RECEIVED THE LONG-AWAITED P.L.P. PETITION.
IT ASKS HER MAJESTY
(A) TO EXERCISE HER PREROGATIVE OF MERCY IN FAVOUR OF BURROWS
AND TACKLYN, COMMUTING THEIR SENTENCES TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT:
AND
(B)
2.
A
TO RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT THE LAW OF BERMUDA WITH RESPECT TO
HANGING BE AMENDED.
WHEN HANDING IT TO ME, WADE, THE DEPUTY P.L.P. LEADER, CLAIMED THAT IT HAD BEEN SIGNED BY SIX THOUSAND BERMUDIANS AGED 18 OR MORE - WHICH HE SAID WAS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE ADULT POPULATION. I TOLD HIM IN RESPONSE THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PETITION, AND THAT I WOULD ENSURE IT RECEIVED DUE CONSIDERATION, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL MEDIA WERE PRESENT, SO IT MAY BE GIVEN SOME PUBLICITY. IF QUESTIONED WE SHALL SAY ONLY THAT IT IS BEING
FORWARDED TO YOU WITH MY COMMENTS.
3. IT WILL FOLLOW BY TO-DAY'S BAG. IN THE LIGHT OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE ON THE SUBJECT I PRESUME THAT YOU WILL NOT IN FACT NEED OCTAILED COMMENTS ON IT OR A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION FROM ME. THEY CAN OF COURSE FOLLOW IF REQUIRED.
}
4. 1 ALSO PRESUME THAT IT WILL BE REGARDED AS A PETITION IN TERMS Yes, but in the terms of OF THE FCO MEMORANDUM, AND THAT I CAN THUS REFER TO IT IN ANY
24. ANNOUNCEMENT! MAY HAVE TO MAKE AFTER THE PRIVY COUNCIL DECISION pina
IS KNOWN.
+
RAMSBOTHAM
FILES
HAIG-D
LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL.