Mr Cortaz
Sir A Duff
PS
Ps/lus.
нка 386
3861
10. 51
قنا
194
CONFIDENTIAL
HAR Coding -21/111 178
RECEIVED IN MES E
17 APR 1978
DESK OFFIC
INDEX
Yes
во
by
Su A Bull
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES (DOTS)
Flag A93 1.
177
Flag B
127
لسياسة اسالا
The Secretary of State has asked for my comments on the amended versions of the draft letter and draft telegram sent up with myable.
submission of 3 March.
2.
At the moment all the Governors concerned have heard nothing since my letter of 27 January which told them that Ministers were considering a change in policy over capital punishment in the DOTS and the possibility that the Creech-Jones doctrine might be
abrogated.
It is, therefore, most important that Governors should be told that Ministers do not propose at this time to introduce any changes. I, therefore, recommend strongly that a telegram should issue. I do not consider that paragraph 2 of the telegram as redrafted is necessary. All the Governors know (from my letter of 27 January with its enclosures and from my speaking to them) of the general tenour of ministerial thinking and they will, of course, have seen from the press the criticisms that followed the
executions in Bermuda.
3.
As far as the draft letter is concerned, this was originally submitted for signature by Mr Rowlands. My motive was to reinforce, by a letter from a Minister, what Governors already knew about the British Government's thinking on this matter. If it is not to be signed by a Minister, then a large part of its utility falls away. I can see some use in such a letter issuing in order to give Governors an idea of why the ministerial decision was taken but I recommend that if it is to go from an official, the level should be kept as low as is reasonably possible.
I recommend the letter, as
amended, should issue over my signature.
21 March 1978
CONFIDENTIAL
Joß.
Sleut
JA B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Dept
[P.T.O. /...