Policy on dependent territories
as it has always been, to work out arrangements for them in
consultation with the representatives of their peoples which
will meet the special circumstances of the individual case.
Future British policy towards the dependent territories
was summarised by the former Secretary of State for Common-
wealth Affairs at the opening session of the Bahamas
Constitutional Conference held in London in September 1968.
He said, "There still remains a number of British dependent
territories around the globe. We do not know what their
ultimate constitutional future will be. We have not and
never have had any detailed blueprint. A few of these
Others
territories may wish to proceed with independence.
may not. It is always difficult to forecast. But whatever
the future holds we in Britain will adhere closely to the
cardinal principle to which we have adhered in the past
that the wishes of the people concerned must be the main
guide to action. It is not and has never been our desire
or intention either to delay independence for those
dependencies who want it or to force it upon those who do
not".
The local people in many of the remaining smaller
dependent territories are themselves anxious that there should
be no hasty decisions about their future and it is unlikely
that developments in future years will be as rapid as they
have been in the past. Our concern will be to continue
where necessary to develop their political institutions to
the point where they are in a position to make a genuine
and meaningful decision about their own futures.
CONFIDENTIAL
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