4
CONFIDENTIAL
3. I must therefore ask you to review the case as quickly as possible, both because natural justice requires a minimum of delay and because it is essentially important to the consideration my colleagues and I are giving to the general principle.
4. I note that the petition is apparently supported by one- quarter of the adult population of Bermuda.
17
27 October The Governor reported in his telegram Personal No. 32
163
that he had again consulted the Advisory Committee which took the view that there had been no new development which would justify them in modifying their previous opinion that commutation would not be justified. The Governor continued: "I believe that this conclusion takes proper account of all local circumstances. I had already, since studying the case
I had after my arrival here, myself come to a similar conclusion. also agreed with the Acting Governor's reasons for his decision, conveyed in his telegram No. Fersonal 10 of 25 April. Consequently, after a further thorough review, I do not consider that I have grounds for reversing it now.
XI
15 Nov.
182
16 Nov.
184
1!
He then added: 6 You have, of course, to take account of an additional factor - UK and parliamentary opinion about capital punishment. It is widely realised here that you may, as a result, advise The Queen to exercise her prerogative as prayed in the petition. No doubt many Bermudians would nevertheless protest volubly if she did so. Most should, however, accept that that was one price of remaining a Dependent Territory."; and
For the reasons I have given above, I must recommend that the law should take its course even though I recognise that you may decide that UK opinion must be the decisive consideration."
FCO telegram No. 224 to Hamilton informed the Governor that the Secretary of State had been "unable to advise Her Majesty The Queen to intervene to prevent the law taking its course. Her Majesty has now approved my submission to this effect. The petitioners should therefore be informed that their petition has failed."
(This telegram incidentally was sent En Clair.)
Mr. Stewart wrote to the Governor explaining that the Cabinet Committee had concluded that it would be wrong to change the Creech-Jones doctrine at a time when a particular case was pending. Accordingly, the Secretary of State had been left with no alternative but to recommend to The Queen that She should not accept the petition and that the law should take its course.
/COMMENTARY
CONFIDENTIAL