DSR 11 (Revised)
DRAFT:
PERSONAL AND
CONFIDENTIAL
minute/letter/teleketter/despatch/note
TYPE: Draft/Final 1+
FROM:
Mr Stratton
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SUBJECT:
POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1. I enclose a memorandum setting out the basic policy
of the present Government towards the dependent overseas
territories. This has been approved by the Secretary of
State as the basis for guidance to Officers Administering
Governments.
2.
For the most part, the memorandum restates the
broad lines of policy that have been followed by
successive Governments since 1945. It does, however, lay
down a somewhat tougher line than has sometimes been
followed in the past on the question of what powers can
be delegated to local governments in territories that opt
to remain dependent.
3. The views of Governors were, of course, taken into
account in preparing the memorandum. It would, however,
be helpful to know if any of the policy as states is likely
to cause problems in your territory. I should stress that
the memorandum does not apply to those territories, eg
Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands, Belize and Gibraltar,
where relations with a neighbouring foreign power inhibit
in any case an 'orderly move to independence.
PERSONALD
CONDIDERTANE
/4.
66-8† Dd 0632078 12/78 [1 Ltd Bly