TNAG-0082-FCO40-118-Proposals-to-extend-the-death-penalty-1967 — Page 4

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and certainly not student fanatics, but rather create added opportunities for martyrdom. This latter objection would apply particularly in the case of young people such as students, who now form a high proportion of those appearing before the courts. To have to send a boy of 15 to prison for 14 years would be to provide ample opportunities for cries of "oppression", and these might well be taken up by certain circles in Britain.

7.

It is also likely that the courts would object to the introduction of mandatory minimum penalties as reflecting the Executive's lack of confidence in their willingness to impose adequate sentences : in fact the sentences imposed by the courts in recent months have in almost all cases been appropriate to the circumstances.

8.

The situation may of course change, and we shall be keeping a close watch on the whole question of penalties for offences arising out of "Confrontation", but we do not wish at the present' time to pursue the possibility of varying these penalties.

impon

Maya in

no

uno Hicial

pemas time.

Часто

Roald Holm S.

(D.R. Holmes)