TNAG-0006-FCO40-42-Constitutional-development-1968 — Page 21

though experience after the Gibraltar referendum of

September 1967 warns us that the effect of such

stimulants on Gibraltarian morale is liable to wear

off fairly soon.

The Act would in effect steal a good deal of

t'e thunder of the Integration with Britain party.

If it were a parent that the Aot resulted from

pressure on F'G by Hassan and Isola, it would there-

fore strengthen their internal political position

vis-eria the integrationists, for what that may be

worth.

In strict legal torns it may be that the Act

would make no difference to the relationship between

the U.K. and Gibraltar because nothing could legally

prevent a future Parliament from amending or repealing

the Act. But in practice Gibraltar's position

vis-a-vis the U.X. would be strengthened (which is

the objective of those who seek the Act) and this

cold scarcely fail to affect the nature of the

relationship in political if not in legal terms.

The consultation with the Law Officess

Since

envisages certain circumstances in which the Act

might have to be amended or repealed (e.g. to comply

with a judgment by the International Court).

the whole object of the Act would be to give the

Gibraltarians a veto over any change in the status

of Gibraltar, it would doubtless be argued that the

Aot itself should not be amended or repealed without

prior Gibraltarian consent. Indeed it could be

expected that when the Bill was originally intro-

duced some Members of Parliament would support it

avowedly on that ground.

The core of the Gibraltar problen, whether

looked at from an international, a military or an

/economic