CONFIDENTIAL → G.
65 کیا
MPS VISIT TO SMALLER ISLAND COLONIES 1965
1. The idea for these visits came from the Secretary of State for the colonies, the then Mr Anthony Greenwood, who was at the time engaged in a review of the long-term future of the remaining colonial territories and was concerned to have first-hand reports on the smaller islands which neither he nor other colonial Ministers had visited. On this basis nine territories were selected but this was reduced to eight because of Foreign Office objections to a visit to the Falkland Islands. The territories and the MPs who visited them are listed in the attached Colonial Office press release.
2.
The proposals were cleared with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Overseas Development and the Foreign Secretary who was concerned because of the New Hebrides as well as the Falkland Islands. The MPs, one Labour and one Conservative in each case, were selected by the Colonial Secretary himself and the names were cleared through the Whip's office. A member of the colonial office staff was designated to accompany each team and the costs of the visits were met from the colonial office vote. The Treasury did not actually agree to any additional funds at the time on the grounds that any possible excess on that part of the vote might be matched by savings elsewhere.
3. Each MP was given the following confidential terms of reference:-
"To visit
to discuss with the administration and other representatives of local opinion the direction of future political and constitutional develop- ment of the territory having regard to the aspirations of the inhabitants and to the social and economic potentialities of the territory and to make a confidential report to the Secretary of State for the colonies".
CONFIDENTIAL
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