STRATFIELD SAYE HOUSE,
READING
Basingstoke 882218
PERMISCHEN AX
27th July 1981
در
By dear Peter
Be by 4/6 TEPS
I am most concerned at the Lords
B/in Ridley B5/M Luck
My Adams SED HKGD
decision last week to accept the amendment giving British nationality to Gibraltarians. As you may possibly know, I spoke very briefly towards the end of the Debate, stressing the point that should the amendment be accepted, it would make the task of finding a solution to the Gibraltar problem infinitely more difficult, and might well render it insoluble.
This
Apart from the implications vis a viz Hong Kong and elsewhere, I feel that the acceptance of this amendment has created a serious problem for the Government - a veritable rod for its own back. is especially so with regard to a solution of the Gibraltar problem, which I always hoped could be achieved within the framework of the European community on the assumption that Spain would eventually enter it or under the umbrella of NATO.
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Some day an honourable solution to the Gibraltar problem has got to be found, and it is going to become infinitely more difficult if the Gibraltarians have full British citizenship.
I do hope the Government, when the Bill goes to the Commons, will put on all the pressure it can to remove this highly undesirable amendment.
ソ
The Lord Carrington, PC.,KCMG.,MC.
The House of Lords,
Westminster,
London,
S. W. 1.
Vilerran
(Duke of Likellington)
!