"CONFIDENNA TAT
proposals weakened their political ties with the United Kingdon and in the case of Gibraltar might impair existing rights
of entry.
A detailed appraisal of the likely initial effects in ter- ritories overseas is given in Annex 1.
4. These very reasonable fears may, at any rate to a large extent, be dispelled by explaining to governments and people concerned that:-
a. the proposals will not affect in any way
existing rights of immigration into the United Kingdom;
b. the proposals merely recognise the status quo.
Thus there is no question of first and second class citizenship;
c. they are not discriminatory; indeed they are
likely to be ill-received by many white people of British descent whose families originated in the United Kingdom;
d. we would continue to give the same protection
in dependencies and at consular and other similar posts abroad to British Overseas Citizens as they now receive as CUKCs; they would remain eligible for British passports.
5. Apart from these reasonable fears, arising from the general nature of the new scheme, however, there are several specific aspects of the proposals which are likely to arouse criticism in various quarters abroad. These are that:-
a. those British Overseas Citizens who do not derive this status from a close personal connection with an existing dependency will not be able to transmit their citizenship to their children;
b. the envisaged abolition of consular registration
of children, by which citizenship may at present be transmitted, will cause serious concern, particularly in the large British communities abroad of people with
/connections
2 CONFIDENTIAL