DSR 11 (Revised)
SUBMISSION
DRAFT:
FROM:
CONFIDENTIAL
minuteMetter/leleletter/despatch/note
R D CLIFT
DEPARTMENT:
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
TO:
Mr Stratton
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
HKGD
TEL. NO:
TYPE: Draft/Final 1+
Reference
Your Reference
Copies to:
WIAD
Mr. Duff WERD Mr. Payne MCD
SUBJECT:
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
CAVEAT......
or
.In Confidence
suspension
Enclosures-flag(s)...........
Problem
1. To decide what policy to adopt towards the continued
existence of capital punishment in certain British
dependent overseas territories.
Recommendation
Jon
2. I recommend that Ministers should be asked to say
whether they wish to maintain the longstanding policy
of not intervening in capital cases in those dependent
the
overseas territories where elected local government have have decided to retain capital punishment; or whether
they would prefer to take steps to secure the abolition
of capital punishment in all British dependent overseas
territories.
Background
3. The detailed background is set out in the attached memorandum. In Summary, the position is that Successive
British Governments have followed a policy of allowing
dolonial governments to decide for themselves whether
to retain capital punishment and of leaving it to
Governors to decide when the prerogative of mercy should
There has, however, been growing pressure
be exercised.
CONFIDENTIAL
/for
56-ST Dd 0532078 12/78 H+P Ltd Bly