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CONFIDENTIAL
proceed by Order in Council to abolish capital punishment. Third, in the Caymans, the local goverment
who have built an execution block complete with gallows and graves, are ready to use it.
7. Finally, although the number of capital cases before
our Governors in the Caribbean territories has dropped
somewhat in the last few weeks, we face an unacceptable
risk if we were to assume that the basic problem will go away. To continue to muddle through is not a realistic option. Even one hanging out of a dozen would be unacceptable to British Parliamentary opinion in the
light of the debates held on 17 December last year. Although there would be some adverse local reaction to an
Order in Council, we expect it to be short-lived and
containable. As in other matters eg the proper regulation of the DT offshore finance centres, we have shown the DTs that in the final analysis HMG is prepared to use its residual powers to require them to follow UK
practice and standards. I therefore wish to submit the
Order to the next regular meeting of the Privy Council in
March and as soon as it is made lay it before
Parliament.
Douglas Hurd
CONFIDENTIAL