GP5760
PRIORITY
CYPHER CATA
CONFIDENTIAL
284
EM FCO '1619182
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HAMILTON TELNO PERSONAL 6 OF 16 JAN 78
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PUS.
Original at:
This Copy for:
HKG 386/1
Information only / Action on Para(s)
1. AFTER SOME LEAVE I AM AFRAID I MISSED REPLYING IN THE LAST BAG TO YOUR LETER OF 22 DECEMBER. I HOPE YOU AGREE THAT IT IS PROBABLY BETTER NOW TO LEAVE THE MAIN ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION WHEN YOU ARE HERE IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
2. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN NOW FCO TELNO 10, GIVING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ENDORSEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. MY OWN VIEW IS THAT YOU HAVE SECURED AS GREAT A DEGREE OF COMPROMISE AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES AS YOU COULD HAVE DARED TO HOPE FOR.
3. YOU MAY REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL KEEP YOU IN TOUCH WITH DEVELOPMENTS, PARTICULARLY IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECIDES THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO INITIATE A DEBATE IN THE HOUSE ON THE GENERAL QUESTION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.
4. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE QUESTION OF WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACCELERATE THE DECOLONISATION PROCESS IN QUR DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES AS A WHOLE. BUT IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION
TO PUT PRESSURE ON BERMUDA TO MAKE AN EARLY MOVE TO INDEPENDENCE. YOUR OWN CONSIDERED RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE OUTCOME OF DISCUSSION ON THE GREEN PAPER, WILL BE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN OUR CONSIDERATION OF THE ATTITUDE WE SHOULD ADOPT A PROCESS WHICH MAY TAKE LONGER THAN WE HAD THOUGHT LAST YEAR.
5. I AM GLAD YOU FOUND TONY DUFF'S LIGHTNING VISIT
HELPFUL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE SOON.
OWEN
FILES WIAD
HKNGD PS
PS/MRROWLANDS
PS/PUS SIR-A-DUFF
MR CORTAZZI MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL