CONFIDENTIAL
7
782
XI
no: only Lin
(182)
182)
Section II
On receipt on 15 November of the notification in FCO telegram No. 224 to Hamilton that the petition for reprieve had failed, the Governor's first duty after informing the Premier was to fix as early a date as possible for the executions. He could not do so at once because, although they had been able to make some plans, they had first to make a definite engagement with a hangman. During the next few days the Governor was irritated to receive at least one telephone call from an FCO Legal Adviser urging speedy action. However, just at the last moment, when he was about to announce the date, a further 24-hour delay was imposed at the request of the Secretary of State. I do not know the reason for this.
By 22 November the Governor was able to inform the FCO (his telegram Personal No. 36) that he had fixed the cate of the executions for 2 December and the fact would be released to the press late on 23 November.
In his telegram, the Governor said that, when releasing the date to the press, "we shall announce the reply that is being given to the petitioners which uses the form of words in your telegram No. 224. For the reasons explained to Stratton on the telephone_yesterday, I shall be grateful if anything that is said in London can be limited to the same form of words.'
In the telephone conversation with Mr. Stratton referred to, the Governor had said, he told me, that on the urging of his security advisers, the fact should not be revealed that he (the Governor) had been asked to advise on the death sentences and, in response to this FCO request, had confirmed the Acting Governor's recommendation. The reasons for this were two.
8
2
Physical security. The safety of the Governor and his family. Political. The need to retain the Governor's effective ability to work with and through both political parties on the main issues confronting Bermuda. It was therefore important that he should not be associated with the hangings, and thereby labelled as a creature of the (white-dominated) government.
This thinking, which was common to the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Premier and his Ministers was prominent in their minds during the next few days. It was for this reason that, for example, the press statement issued for publication on 24 November used the same language as FCO telegram No. 224 and said:
"Having carefully considered all matters raised in the
petition to The Queen ..., the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was unable to advise Her Majesty to intervene to prevent the law taking its course in the cases of Burrows and Tacklyn. Her Majesty has approved his submission to that effect. Friday, 2 December has now been fixed as the date of their execution."
CONFIDENTIAL
/The