A
7. On the question of transfers from Dependent Territories to the USA I explained to Mr Griffith that this would be possible if the UK decided to sign and ratify the draft Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the text of which might shortly be agreed. I told him that no decision on this had yet been taken by HMG and that even in the event of a favourable one it was unlikely that the necessary enabling legislation could be on the statute book in less than three years. I said that the extension of the Convention to Dependent Territories would be considered in conjunction with ratification and that it was probable that Bermuda would wish to be included. In that event, and since the US (and Canada) had asked to be allowed to accede to the Convention as soon as it was opened for signature, and there seemed no objection to this, an arrangement for the transfer of prisoners would then exist between Bermuda and the USA.
19 October 1982
F H Brown
NTD