CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Stewart, HKGD
Executions in Bermuda
hr that
P.A
Qught 1 87251/1
Jals
You kindly telephoned the Deputy Governor of Bermuda yesterday to ask that no annoucement about the executions there should be made until the Secretary of State had been told of what was proposed.
Sir P Rund bootylen now
pretur Friday
for locall told
I have now consulted the Secretary of State who is ontent for an announcement to be made as soon as the Governor wishes. He sees no need to wait until Friday. As regards the actual date of the executions, the Secretary of State would prefer there to be less time between the announcement and the execution than is currently proposed but, again, he does not wish to interfere.
As I mentioned to you, the Secretary of State does not think it necessary to minute the Prime Minister and other Ministers in order to let them know the date of the execution. He does not wish News Department to profer anything unless questioned, in which case they should reply in as straight, flat and dead-pan a way as possible. You said that you would let me have a look at the material prepared for News Department's use.
201
24 November 1977
Cc:- PS
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/PUS
Sir A Duff
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Stratton
Mr Whyte
Legal Advisers
Swall
J S Wall
CONFIDENTIAL
HKG 38611
NO. 51
Not
25 NOV 1977
Action Ta'
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