according to the particular circumstances of
each territory and its peoples and their
varying stages of advancement. 11
We have no reason
eason to be defensive about the way successive
governments have carried out
there
responsibilities
Indeed about a third
of the Member States of the UN have reached independence
as a result of the way we have discharged our Charter
We shall continue in the same spirit
obligations.
with our remaining dependent territories assisting them
ine
to develop their institutions
territory.
a
mame
appropriate to the circumstances of each
It is of course the Government of the day and
Parliament rather than the UN which are responsible
for taking decision on British dependent territories
and on occasion it has been necessary to dissociate
ourselves from views expressed by the United Nations.
We do not acceptegenple
We do not accept that independence regardless of size
and population and other treaty obligations is the only
form of constitutional advance open to dependent
territories.
:
t
We continue to cooperate with the UN in its consider-
UN
ation of our dependent territories. The decolonization
X
committee, known as the Committee of 24, discuss the derailed Lon each of on dependent territories)
reports we submit to the UN under Article 73(e)
Swe
of the Charter. Although we are no longer members
(many of) debates Many ots its
of the Committee of 24 we participate
and invite visiting missions to dependent territories
to gain first hand knowledge of conditions in the
/various