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RG Smedley Esq
Nationality & Treaty Dept.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Clive House
Petty France
12 February 1979
Dear George,
NATIONALITY LAW REVIEW: BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP
I enclose the first draft of a paper we have prepared on British Overseas Citizenship.
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2. We are as I think you know putting up papers for our Ministers' approval for the purpose of making further progress in preparing a White Paper and legislation. The ones on dual citizenship and descent in the female line which you have already seen have been approved by our Minister of State and await the Secretary of State's consideration.
3. The paper on British Overseas Citizenship follows fairly closely the lines set out in the Green Paper. I imagine that it will take some little time for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office as a whole to formulate a final view on it. What I would like to do therefore is to put it forward to our Ministers in a week or so for approval, making it clear that there may have to be some changes later. I would be glad therefore if you could let me have any immediate comments, and in particular if you would point out any "howlers" we may have made, during the next few days, so that I may put it forward on that basis.
4. One possible addition had occurred to me since in independency settlements in the last few years the territories concerned have often been unaware that Parliament has to withdraw citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies from those who acquire the new citizenship unless they have recognised connections with the United Kingdom or continuing colonies. Would there, I wondered, be any advantage in saying in a new Nationality Act what is to happen when colonies become independent? Although the position might therefore be made clearer to the dependencies, I concluded that on balance we
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