TNAG-0082-FCO40-118-Proposals-to-extend-the-death-penalty-1967 — Page 54

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Dd.033009 Gp.863

CONFIDENTIAL

3

astenment

of

The

deterrent effect of your course

1.roposed

and

The alternative

mentioned in para

2 above.

Obviously the question to which Ministers

will attach the greatest importance will be the

effectiveness of the penalty as a deterrent. This,

of course, is something which it is very difficult

to demonstrate but it would be extremely useful

Courses

yours or t

to have your views on which of the alternatives

breationent

in paragraph 2 above is likely to have the greater

deterrent effect.

that there is much

We have noted your references to public

Some

concern and public pressure for the introduction

Useful

of severer penalties. It would be interesting

to know whether this pressure has been maintained

and, if so, what would be the likely public reaction

if some xtrar severer punishment,but not the

death penalty was introduced.

>