CONFIDENTIAL
୫୬
Mr Brownlee, M&VD
GIBRALTARIANS' ENTRY TO BRITAIN
1.
I note from your minute to Mr Shepherd (copied to Mr Bawyer) of 21 July that in answer to enquiries from the Falkland Islanders in the past HVD have relied on the EEC aspects in explaining why Gibraltarians may enter the UK without restriction as to employment or time. uite apart from the fact that (as you point out) the special entry arrangements which were confirmed and extended in 1971 are more beneficial than the general LEC right of free movement of labour, it would be misleading to imply that the arrangements under which Gibraltarians may enter Britain derive only from Gibraltar's position in EEC. The special arrangements preceded Britain's entry into the EEC and would subsist even if Gibraltar's position in the EEC were to change, because they derive from the seige conditions referred to by Mr George Thomson when Commonwealth Secretary in his statement of 24 May 1968. Since the Gibraltarians attach great importance to then I can foresee problems if they hear from the Falkland Islanders, with whom they have effective contact, that the FCO has attributed the entry facilities solely to Gibraltar's position in the FLC.
2. Perhaps you could let me know the precise wording which ho been uued. Of course, we also wish to restrict publicity eb u'. the administrative facility to a minimum: do as long da tủ.
ording does not exclude the Spanish restrictions as a bici f Gibraltarians' special entry facilities there may be no prob! thrwise wo may only store up unnecessary troubey for cure with the Falkhands (and other territories) if it were thought that we had deliberately misrepresented the position in order 5
void requests for similar treatment.
25 July 1977
*00
Mr Chepherd, M&VD Hr Amy, N&TD
Ir Flower, SED EID(I) LAD I&GD
dband
f FH Brown
Southern European Denar
By
meen Ja
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRYINo.16
25 JWL 1977
WSB 390/1
Jac (36) person
لمعده
مدل
/ Dragt nasty with NTO)
257
CONFIDENTIAL