(comes w/ Mesm Surat/Qwwwull).
Mitwain
11h 3/A
J Jell
24/06/
196
(195
Reference.
198
News Department
ANNOUNCEMENT OF DATE OF EXECUTIONS IN BERMUDA
1.
The announcement of the date of execution of Burrows
and Tacklyn will be made by the Governor of Bermuda at about
9 am local time (1 pm London time) tomorrow, Friday 25 November.
2.
3.
The Governor is expected to use the following form of words:-
"Having carefully considered all matters raised in the petition for clemency on behalf of Erskine Durrant BURROWS and Larry Winfield TACKLYN the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has been unable to advise Her Majesty The Queen to intervene to prevent the law from taking its course.
The executions of Erskine Durrant BURROWS and Larry Winfield TACKLYN will therefore take place on Friday 2 December 1977".
The Secretary of State has minuted with regard to News Department briefing the press that it should be:-
4.
"Straight deadpan do not proffer anything.
Play it as flat as possible".
Background for the use of News Department Press Officers is contained in Mr Quantrill's minute of 23 November (attached). Press Officers should be guided by Secretary of State's comments at paragraph 3 above.
5. Unattributable. Under the Creech-Jones doctrine the Secretary of State can only advise The Queen not to allow the law to take its course if he thinks there has been a miscarriage of justice. There is no evidence of any such miscarriage in this case.
J. Juster
J Jasper
Hong Kong & General Department K 270
233 4069
CODE 18-77
$5 10/76
24 November 1977
CC: PS
PS/PUS WIAD
HKG 386/1
RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY NO. 51 2 4 NOV 1977
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
ΡΑ
No hagus
REGISTRY Action Taken
Covering Confidential