CONFIDENTIAL
Mr
Cortazzi
176
218
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
On 2 March, Sir Clive Rose wrote to me suggesting that I prepare a note, in consultation with the Law Officers' Department, the Lord Chancellor's Office and the Home Office, on the legal and constitutional implications of the various alternatives to the existing procedures governing the exercise of the prerogative of mercy in relation to capital cases in dependent territories.
2. I now attach a copy of Sir Clive Rose's letter to me of
2 March, together with a copy of my reply of today's date covering the note which I have prepared in response to Sir Clive Rose's suggestion. The note is, I think, self-explanatory.
3. You may wish to consider whether copies of the note should be sent, on a personal basis, to the Governors of our various dependent territories which still retain the death penalty for murder.
19 April 1978
Cc:
Private Secretary
PS/Mr Rowlands
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts. PS/PUS.
Sir A Duff
Mr Stratton
Mr Rushford ·
WIAD
HKGD
M&CD
Dan Suar
Ian Sinclair Legal Adviser
CONFIDENTIAL
пка
MKG 38071
RECEN
DEGN
INDEX
No
1 5 MAY 1978
10. 51
„EGISTRY
Action Taken
See (235
Mr
219