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We
financial resources from tasks much more important to the UK itself. Nevertheless we have an inescapable moral obligation to safeguard
the welfare of their inhabitants, for whom we are responsible. should rightly be criticised if we adopted a policy of withdrawal without regard for the consequences, particularly in the case of those dependencies which are unlikely ever to become self-sustaining
or economically truly independent. The circumstances of each territory differ widely, and our policy for each must be considered separately, taking into account, inter alia, the decisions which will follow the Defence Review. The basic problem is to reconcile our own interest in shedding responsibility for them with our obligations
to their inhabitants.
4.
Our traditional approach to the dependent territories is founded on the United Nations Charter of 1945, which specifies that the interests of the inhabitants of non-self-governing territories should be paramount, and requires the administering powers to promote their political, social and educational advancement to the point of self-government. Successive British administrations have subscribed
to these principles, which are reflected in our present policy, neither to delay independence for those dependencies which want it, nor to force it upon those which do not.
5. For practical purposes our remaining dependencies may be categorised as follows:
a. Those whose continued dependence is in HMG's interests:-
i.
ii.
British Antarctic Territory (BAT). There is no permanent population. BAT provides a base for the British contribution to international scientific research. The Antarctic Treaty imposes severe restraint on any change in
status before 1991.
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). There is no permanent population. Diego Garcia will remain a location for defence facilities in the Indian Ocean in association with the United States. We will have to reconsider with
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