CONFIDENTIAL
GILBERT ISLANDS
HONG KONG
MONTSERRAT
NEW HEBRIJES
Present Constitution and Prospects for Inderendence
Internal
Ministerial Constitution introduced 1974. self government 1 January 1977. Independence Conference in 1977 aiming at independence in mid 1978.
No constitutional progress is possible and inderendence is not an option.
Advanced Ministerial Constitution in force since 4060. The reople show no desire for independence and a Visiting UN Mission was assured that they were happy as they were. Their membership of CARICOM and of the Associated State Council of Ministers may spur them by example.
Anglo-French Condominium. Constitutional development had been at a standstill, until Anglo/French agreement in November 1974 to esta lish a Representative Assembly, with wide responsibilities, elected by universal suffrage. Glections held in November 1975. At inaugural meeting of Assembly in June 1976 joint ministerial statement publicly affirmed our policy of self-determination. Anglo- French Ministerial meeting in Cctober 1976 privately agreed that inderendence was our joint aim. It vas announced that in 1977 the Representative Assembly should elect its own President and that the Assembly Committees should be increasinly involved in the work of the joint administration, thus paving the way to internal self-government (privately expected in about 3 years time).
Considerations affecting 1
Policy
Not grant-aided. Aid policy will have to be reviewed in context of independence and evertual end of phosphate
revenues.
Economically viable: no aid
Individual questions arise. territorial study not required.
Grant-aided. Unlikely to become economically viable unless in association with others.
Grant-aided: little likelihood of becoming economically viable.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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