- 3-
DSR 11C
territories want.
However, we do not believe this to mean that colonies should be forced into independence against the wishes of the majority of their inhabitants. At present there remain some 18 British overseas
territories. [At least 3 or 4 of them should become independent by 1980. In certain cases there are political problems with other countries that need to be settled before independence can be considered, and in other cases there are practical objections to the granting of independence, principally because of the miniscule size of the populations. Bermuda itself is already engaged in a process of internal discussions about independence. The Bermuda Government have published a Green Paper on the subject, and this is to be followed by a White Paper as soon as the population have had a chance to express their views. If the consensus of
local opinion is that the country should move towards independence, then this Government will certainly give them all possible help and encouragement to do so.
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