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18. Mr Cortazzi then moved the discussion on to the papers produced by the Governor on Bermudian affairs. He welcomed the papers and looked forward to being kept in the picture, particularly on the question of independence. If the Bermudian Government's canvass of opinion revealed a majority in favour of independence the situation would be different from that envisaged by the Governor. Sir F Ramsbotham thought this was unlikely and that when the new election approached, the independence issue would by played down and the Opposition's line would be that electoral anomalies should be removed to help prepare the way for independence. Mr Duff interjected that if
the PLP were to win the next election they might seek early indepen- dence. The Governor said this was possible. However, we must keep in mind the strong interests of the United States in a stable and prosperous Bermuda: they hoped that independence would not come until Bermuda was really ready for it and our policy must reflect American strategic concern. He saw one of his tasks as that of inculcating a sense of responsibility into the Opposition to prepare them for the time they came into power. At the moment they were irresponsible and dominated by their left wing. This would all take time.
19. Mr Cortazzi summed up this part of the discussion by saying that the British Government's policy would be to respond to the wishes of the Bermudian people. If they wanted independence we must respond to this wish, but we would not put pressure on them. we were not against cosmetic changes and delegations of authority so long as cumulatively they were not real changes which would lead to Britain having respons- ibility without power. The Governor said he was very happy with this expression of the FCO's view. He added that the only source of worry in Bermuda was that the British Government might try to wash their hands of Bermuda. The Secretary of State's remarks in the Commons on 5 December suggested to some Bermudians that Britain was anxious that Bermuda should become independent as soon as possible. Mr Cortazzi's exposition of the British Government's view was acceptable and reflected his own thinking entirely.
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