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THE FULL STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HIS ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARIES HAVE NOT BROUGHT ME MUCH COMFORT (VIZ
(A) THE REPLY TO MR LATHAM TAKE AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY COMMITTEE THAT DEGREE
OF DECISION-MAKHIG WHICH THEY CURRENTLY HAVE.
(B) THE REPLY TO MR BIDWELL THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS, IN THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE EXECUTION SENT THE VIEWS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LABCUR PARTY SO THAT HE SHOULD HAVE THEM QUOTE AS PART OF THE BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH HE HAD TO MAKE THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS UNQUOTE. ALL THIS IS GRIST TO THE OPPOSITION'S MILL.
5.
I WAS
YOU WILL RECALL THAT, AT AN EARLY STAGE, I HAD ASKED (TELCON TO STRATTON), ON THE URGING OF MY SECURITY ADVISERS, THAT MY ROLE IN CONFIRMING, AT YOUR REQUEST, THE RECOMMENDATION LAST MAY OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE PUBLICLY REVEALED. SUBSEQUENTLY REASSURED ON THIS POINT BY STEWART AND, LATER (IN VIEW OF CONTRARY RUMOURS HERE) BY THE RESIDENT CLERK AFTER CONSULTING THE PRIVATE SECRETARY, THAT THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RESPECTED. AND YET THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PREPARED STATEMENT, WHICH WAS NEVER CLEARED WITH ME, SAYS QUOTE 1, (THE GOVERNOR) DECIDED THAT THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR CHANGING THE DECISION OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR UNQUOTE.
THE REPLY TO MR BIDWELL IS PARTICULARLY SURPRISING, IN VIEW OF THE PLEA IN MY TELEGRAM NO 211 OF THE 2 DECEMBER THAT THE PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT QUOTE SINCE THE QUEEN WAS NOT ADVISED TO INTERVENE WHEN PETITIONED SHE THEREBY EXERCISED HER PREROGATIVE, AND THAT THE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I COULD NOT NOW EXERCISE IT ON HER BEHALF IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND WAS NOT EMPOWERED TO DO SO UNQUOTE. WAS MY REQUEST ACTED UPON? THE FORMULA IN MY TELEGRAM 211 WAS APPROVED HERE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I HAVE SINCE HAD PERSONAL CONFIRMATION FROM SIR MICHAEL HOGAN (THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COURT OF APPEAL) THAT, IN HIS JUDGMENT, IT IS A CORRECT STATEMENT OF MY POSITION. YET THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY TO MR BIDWELL STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT I COULD HAVE OVERRIDDEN THE QUEEN'S PREROGATIVE, AFTER THE PETITION HAD, ON HIS ADVICE TO HER, BEEN REJECTED. SINCE I RECEIVED NO
COMMENT FROM YOU ON THAT FORMULA I TOOK IT TO MEAN YOUR TACIT CONSENT AND HAVE CONTINUED TO USE IT IN MY RESPONSES E.G. TO LETTERS FROM THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN HER CAPACITY AS TACKLYN'S
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