Mr. Murray
Flag A 123
Flag B (235
LETTER FROM DIRECTOR, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
1. Mr David Simpson, Director of the British Section of Amnesty International, has written to the Secretary of State urging that everything possible should be done to prevent the execution of Sylvestor Gaston who was sentenced to death for the murder of an elderly lady in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Simpson also wrote to the Secretary of State in connection with the executions in Bermuda last month: copies of that correspondence are attached.
2. The Department's Legal Adviser has advised that it could be
Inconstitutional for the Secretary of State to take account of Mr Simpson's representations in considering any Appeal that may be made to him on Gaston's behalf. I recommend, therefore, that the Secretary of State should send an entirely non-committal reply. I attach a draft.
6 February 1978
CC:
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/Mr Rowlands
PS/PUS
Mr Cortazzi
Sir A Duff
Legal Advisers
WIAD
News Department
JA B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Department
HKG 3801
RECEIVES
Y NO. 51
-8 FEB 1978
DESK OFFR...
INDEX
No
PA
&L
original draft
See
See (147
147 reply.
REGISTRY Action Taken
све
at (123
(143)