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IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
Gps 150
FM FCO @11825Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 011900Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RAC
TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON TELNO 239 OF 1 DECEMBER
FOR THE GOVERNOR FROM STEWART
DEATH SENTENCES
HKG 380/1
- 2 DEC 1977
DESK OFFIC
10. 51
ASGISTRY berion Tuken
ве
INDEX
No
1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RECEIVED AN URGENT PETITION SIGNED BY 21 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ASKING HIM TO PREVAIL UPON THE BERMUDIAN AUTHORITIES TO EXERCISE CLEMENCY IN THE BURROWS AND TACKLYN CASE. THEY ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT IF THE EXECUTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT GREAT BITTERNESS WILL BE ENGENDERED AND RACE RELATIONS IN BERMUDA WILL SUFFER A SEVERE SETBACK. THEY ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE U K APPLY EQUALLY IN BERMUDA.
2. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT, IN HIS REPLY, DR OWEN SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY AN INTERNAL AFFAIR OF THE BERMUDIAN COVERNMENT, BUT THAT HE HAS UNDERTAKEN TO INFORM YOU OF THEIR DEEP CONCERN AND TO ASK YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOUR MINISTERS ARE
URGENTLY MADE AWARE OF THEIR CONCERN.
3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOT YET SEEN THE SUGGESTED REPLY BUT, IN VIEW OF THE TIME FACTOR, YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE ACTION WITHOUT DELAY.
OVEN
FILES
HKFGD
Ps
MRCORTAZZ! MR POSNETT
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS.
PSIMR ROWLANDS.
Ps jpus.
MÆSTRATTOM,
LEGAL ADVISERS.
CONFIDENTIAL