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the Falkland Islands and possibly also, given time, for Gibraltar. If, in audition, Ministers were prepared to considor giving independence to Belize with some kind of understanding about defence, we might be able to make some real progress towards final decolonisation.
4. All these proposals however require much furthor study and in my opinion it would be dangerously premature to say to the Spaniarus that we have counter proposals up our sleeve if by that we mean the proposal in this submission. It would, in my view, be unrealistic to think that we would be ready to put such a proposal to the Spaniards in anything like the time-scale they envisage. It requires much moro examination in London and a major exercise with the Gibraltarians.
5.
I am sorry therefore that I must suggest that at this stage we should conl'ine ourselves to the action proposed in paragraphs 18(a) and 18(b) of the submission and that we should considor in the light of the replies
Trom Sir J Russell and the Governor whether it would be
possible to say anything meaninglul to the Spaniards about possible counter proposals.
8 August 1973
cc.
Mr Goulding
✓lir Guest
Bir D Watson
Mr Viggin 0.r. Mr Champion (CCGD) Mr Tceble (UND)
Er Tidy (112, MOD)
Mr Jackson (Defence Dept) Mr Cable (Planning Staif
Ir Bennett (Rosearch Dept) Mr Goodison (SED)
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EN Larmour
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