Gligandi by
descent would
pass through th
male live only.
CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
birth, registration or naturalisation in an existing dependency. There would be some provision to limit statelessness. If British Overseas Citizens, who had no right of entry in a dependency, were able to pass on their citizenship to their children, there would still be many British Overseas Citizens scattered over the world in 100 years time, who had the right of entry neither in the United Kingdom nor in a dependency. This would perpetuate one of the worst aspects of our present situation.
7. In explaining the proposals to United Kingdom communities and others you may draw on the above and on the arguments below as appropriate:-
a. Some Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) might think, however mistakenly, that rights regarding settlement in the United Kingdom were being removed or that their chances of successfully applying for settlement were being worsened. Changes in the nationality law would
not affect in any way existing rights of immigra- tion into the United Kingdom and any fears on this score are unjustified.
b. British Overseas Citizenship might be regarded in
some quarters as second-class citizenship, but the proposals do not discriminate against British Overseas Citizens; they merely recognise the status quo and are designed to answer progress towards a situation in which appropriate rights are gained along with citizenship. Some CUKCs now have the right of entry into the United Kingdom; many do not have that right but do have a right of entry into an existing dependency. The former will become British Citizens, the latter British Overseas Citizens. There will be
no discrimination on grounds of colour or race. The long-term aim would be, in cooperation with the governments of dependent territories, to confine British Overseas Citizenship to, those with a right
of entry to a dependency.
c. In some Colonies there may be a feeling that the
proposal to create two citizenships would weaken the political ties with the United Kingdom. This is not so. The British Government would continue to give the
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CONFIDENTIAL 5