TNAG-0006-FCO40-42-Constitutional-development-1968 — Page 23

own future defense interests or needs in Gibraltar,

In effect therefore the Act would have many of

the same consequcnood as integration and would acem

open to the same objections. It would create an

open-ended and unconditional commitment for the U.K.

and in so doing would close the door to Spain.

It

would give the people of Gibraltar a final control

over their own destiny which they have not the

resources to sustain, Since the price of maintaining

Gibraltar's present status falls on the U.K., the Act

Char

would embody, dangerous separation of power from

ん

responsibility.

(a) Relations with other Dependent Territories.

If such a Bill were introduced into Parliament

for Gibralter, it could be expected that the Falkland

Islanders would immediately ask for one too. It is

vory difficult to see the grounds on which such a

privilege could be refused to the Falkland Islanders

who are our own kith and kin, if it had once been

conceded to the Gibraltarians. However, in the House

(

of Commons debate about the Falkland Islands on 26

March the Foreign Secretary, while making it clear

that there co ld be no change of sovereignty unless

HMG were satisfied that the conditions attached to it

were acceptable to the Falkland Islanders, also under-

lined the fact that the final decision over sovereignty

rested with HG. It would seem very difficult to

maintain that position in practice, if not in law,

if there were a Falkland Islends Act on the pattern of the

suggosted Gibraltar Act. The prospects of continuing

the dialogue with Argentina would presumably be set

back for some years.

It might also be necessary to consider the

effect on other Depondent Territories over which there

are or may in future be international disputes.