29/10/12
11
1. PS/
Mr Stratton
2.
Riverto
HILG 025/1
ELZAYED IN HISTRY NC. 51 25 JAN 1930
HICER
ELERNTIAL
REGISTRY Action, Taken
Ps,
42
his free.
Ps/thed_ BS) Witate
Sce
1980
A
POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
Problem
1. To determine general Government policy towards the remaining
Dependent Territories.
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that Ministers should approve the guidelines set
out in the attached Memorandum. Except in the most general terms
it does not deal with Hong Kong, Belize, Gibraltar and the Falkland
Islands, all of which are special cases.
Background and Argument
3.
Ministers have not yet had occasion to consider their general
policy towards our remaining Dependent Territories (listed at
Annex A). They will be aware from separate papers of the problems,
including those of security, that have arisen in the Caribbean area.
Partly as a result of these developments, the Governors of the
Caribbean territories in particular need guidance about the
Government's policy over decolonisation.
4.
A Memorandum on colonial policy is attached. For the most
part this is a re-statement of the broad policy that has been
followed, with changes of emphasis, by successive Governments
since 1945. The only slight departure is in the second section
which deals with the minimum powers which the British Government
should retain. The Memorandum proposes a somewhat tougher line
than the one which has been followed in recent years. The list
of powers to be retained in paragraph 2 has been drawn up after
consultation with Governors and with the geographical departments
directly concerned.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.