TNAG-0429-FCO40-494-Programme-Analysis-and-Review-(PAR)-Future-of-Dependent-Terr-1974 — Page 82

Latory by terriebeg

particular circumstances of each.

the

ht of the

Dependency status

now an anachronism, and our traditional policy of

devolving power is virtually irreversible. Even when

we retain sovereignty, the process of constitutional

devolution continues, with the disadvantage to us that, although we have an ultimate responsibility, we have less and less effective control. The exercise

of our responsibility, or actions by dependency

governments themselves, are liable to involve us in

domestic and international embarrassment, particularly

if we have to use the Armed Services to maintain law

and order. We think it is in our long term interest to keep a few territories as dependencies; But in

general we are convinced that we should encourage the remainder to seek independence, or (in a few cases) association with a third power as soon as

international constraints and local circumstances allow (we acknowledge that in the case of Gibraltar

this last is unlikely to be practical politics in the foreseeable future, but the long term objective remains valid).

3. We think that if possible we should try to treat the Caribbean countries as a group which might include independent countries as well as Associated States. There are already some signs of thinking in

this direction in the area. The concept might help to solve the Anguilla problem, on which a separate

memorandum is being submitted to the DOPC.

ECONOMIC AID POLICY

4.

The review distinguishes two main options. First

essentially our present policy to seek where

possible to establish an economic and social infra-

CONFIDENTIAL

/ structure

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