CONFIDENTIAL
Mick $4011
RECEIVED IN ASTRY NO. 51.
1 6 JUL 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
APS/Mr Luce
PA
REGISTRY Acuon Takga
من
в согор
308
NATIONALITY BILL
See (309
1. An amendment has been tabled in the Lords which would have the effect of including the Falkland Islands in the definition of 'islands' thus ensuring Falklanders acquisition of British citizenship.
2. The Falkland Islands committee have made it clear that any concession to Gibraltar would lead to demands for concessions to the Islanders. The silence from the Falkland Island lobby could be an indication that it hopes Ld Boyd-Carpenter's amendment on Gibraltar will be passed by the House of Lords. Their tactics would therefore be to ride in on Gibraltar's back.
3. All along the Gibraltariáns have emphasised that they are a special case, and that the other dependencies do not really quarrel with that. This is obviously not so. The Falklanders in pushing for their amendment will emphasise their special status and ethnic connections with the United Kingdom. Such pleading is bound to fall on sympathetic ears, especially if the Gibraltar amendment is passed. Additionally we have been told recently by the Governor that there would be outrage in Montserrat if Gibraltar is singled out for special treatment. Montserrat will not accept that Gibraltarians deserved favourable terms and would be on to us immediately if they get it. And, of course, Hong Kong made it clear long ago that any concession to Gibraltar would lead to demands for similar treatment for Hong Kong.
4. I have discussed this with Mr Jones and we believe there is strong value in exposing this weakness in the Gibraltar argument; by emphasising that contrary to Gibraltar's claims, the other dependencies do not recognise that Gibraltar's position