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CONFIDENTIAL
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Secretary of State
Prime Minister
Lord Chancellor Home Secretary
Secretary of State for
Defence
CAPITAL PUN SHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ·
1. You should know of problems which might arise within the
next few months over the question of the death penalty in
dependent territories..
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2. The current position is as described in the attached note
which was prepared for you in August when you saw MPs who had
visited the British Virgin Islands. The issue of course
arouses strong political feelings, both in this country and
in the dependencies themselves. There is a body of opinion
here, with some support in Parliament, which maintains that
HMG should bring the dependent territories' practice into
line with the metropolitan power and, if necessary, impose
Such demands would obviously increase if execu-
tions were in prospect. On the other hand, local feeling in
those territories which retain the death penalty is generally
strongly in favour of its use. Commutations can lead to
abolition.
protests and even violence. In 1978 a frigate was sent to
the British Virgin Islands in expectation of disturbances
when the Governor decided to commute.
3. The positionoof the Governors is awkward. They have the
same sort of responsibility as that previously exercised by
Home Secretaries in the United Kingdom.
CONFIDENTIAL
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