CONFIDENTIAL
introduce an element of permanence and rigidity into arrangements which it is in our interests should remain flexible. We intend to continue working towards independence in some form for most of the dependent territories, and would not want to encourage a development which could impede their progress in this direction. Nor would we welcome the idea of such an act of self-determination at present in the specific case of Montserrat which you mention.
5. There are other problems. A change of policy might give rise to further difficulties with states that have claims on, or pretensions against, certain of our dependent territories. The UN itself might decline to recognise acts of self-determination if they were not in accord with the ideology underlying the Committee's work. And there is the danger that, once a territory had opted to remain British, the pressure for dovolution of the Government's reserved constitutional powers in relation to the territory might grow. This could lead to the dependencies assuming the characteristics associated with statehood, leaving us in the undesirable position we found ourselves in with the Associated States of having responsibility without power.
6.
It does not seem to me that to go on as we are is really a bad alternative. As you point out, the remaining small territories are now treated with some understanding in the Committee of 24 and the Fourth Committee. They will continue to decline in number. And there is likely to be increasing recognition that independence is not the best answer for the rest. I realise that servicing these committees places some strain on your staff but this is a fairly small price to pay for being able to show that we are generally cooperative with the UN on such questions.
7.
I do
I am sorry my reply cannot be more forthcoming,
We are grateful to you for ventilating this difficult question again and we remain open to any further suggestions you may have. not think, incidentally, that it is quite fair to say that, if we made no change in our present policy towards dependent territories, we should be in a situation of drift. There is in fact already an overall policy of bringing dependent territories and the Associated States to independence when this is in accordance with the wishes of the people; and this is being steadily pursued. Meanwhile, the departments concerned are preparing a policy paper on our options in relation to the very small dependent territories which are reluctant to follow the traditional path towards full independence and for some of which such a goal may in any case be unrealistic.
MS Weir