184
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
HKG 380/1
The Hon Sir Peter Ramsbotham GCVO KCMG
HAMILTON
Bermuda
16 November 1977
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1..
183
I enclose a non-Personal letter giving the outcome of the PLP petition to The Queen on Brows and Tacklyn.
2. The Cabinet Committer concluded that it would be wrong to change the "Creech-Jones" doctrine at a time when a particular case was under consideration, lest it be thought that the policy was being changed simply for the purpose of being able to intervene in that case. Accordingly the Secretary of State, having satisfied himself that there had been no miscarriage of justice, was left with no alternative but to recommend to The Queen that she should not accept the petition, and that the law should be allowed to take its course.
3.
Ministers did, however, agree on the desirability of an eventual change in the present policy. We hope to return to the subject again in the New Year provided there are no further complications, such as the emergence of some new case like the Burrows and Tacklyn affair in one of the remaining dependent territories.
нка
HKG 38071
22 NOV 1977
DESK SK
INDEX
No
PA
13.51
COY
Then
JAB Stewart
Hong Kong & General Department
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL