CONFIDENTIAL
067460
01
MDHOAN
BVI TO WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. NEVERTHELESS, YOU SHOULD, AS IN MY TELNO 161, TAKE THE LINE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS REACHED HIS DECISION BECAUSE HE IS ULTIMATELY ANSWERABLE TO PARLIAMENT FOR THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, AND THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT SO FAR AS POSSIBLE GOVERNMENTS OF THE DTS FOLLOW UK LEGISLATION AND PRACTICE. THIS APPLIES PARTICULARLY IN AN AREA WHERE THE UK PARLIAMENT HAS EXPRESSED A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT VIEW OVER MANY YEARS AND MOST RECENTLY IN THE DEBATE ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON 17 DECEMBER. IN CONSULTING YOUR GOVERNMENTS YOU SHOULD TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO OTHER RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS THE REASONS BEHIND OUR DECISION.
4. WHILE WE DO NOT EXPECT THERE TO BE ANY UNREST FOLLOWING NEWS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL ORDER, YOU WILL WISH TO CONSULT YOUR POLICE COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE THAT LAW AND ORDER WILL BE MAINTAINED IN THE TERRITORY DURING THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE
ANNOUNCEMENT.
5. HAMILTON ONLY. YOU SHOULD INFORM SIR JOHN SWAN OF WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. IF HE ASKS WHETHER THE ORDER WILL APPLY TO BERMUDA, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL HIM THAT IT WILL NOT, AND THAT PRIMARY LEGISLATION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN BERMUDA UNLESS THE BERMUDA LEGISLATURE ITSELF TOOK ACTION. YOU SHOULD REPEAT WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD PREFER A DECISION ON THE WAY FORWARD IN BERMUDA TO LIE IN BERMUDIAN HANDS, AND THEREFORE EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE ELSEWHERE.
6. TORTOLA ONLY. MR LENNOX-BOYD WILL ALSO TAKE UP THE ISSUE PERSONALLY WITH LAVITY STOUTT WHEN THE CHIEF MINISTER CALLS ON
HIM ON 11 MARCH.
7. MONTSERRAT AND ANGUILLA ONLY. MRS CHALKER WILL BE BRIEFED TO DEFEND OUR DECISION WHEN SHE VISITS MONTSERRAT AND ANGUILLA ON 6 AND 7 MARCH RESPECTIVELY. MEANWHILE CHAMBERLAIN MAY IF
ASKED BY HIS COLLEAGUES AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING OF ATTORNEYS
GENERAL SAY THAT MINISTERS HAVE CONSIDERED THE QUESTION OF ABOLITION AND THAT THE OUTCOME OF THEIR DELIBERATIONS WILL BE CONVEYED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO DT GOVERNMENTS.
HURD
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