think
told
t
no that, if tar The may be releated CM has also told
ave not to ing wase AV defonce fimposes, we would like to lay lane back
back to Comine hooforesi argon Eu allnakan and their Governments at the time agreed to the arrangement. There are no permanent inhabitants. There is an Anglo-American Naval Communications facility on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago, which may be expanded. The Opposition in Seychelles are likely to go on pressing for the return of the three islands which used to form part of Seychelles We should not wish to have a UN visiting mission.
5. British Solomon Islands Protectorate
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
No objections to a visiting mission provided that the local Government had been consulted and agreed.
British Virgin Islands
No objection to a visiting mission provided that the local Government had been consulted and agreed.
Cayman Islands
The Islands are
We would not welcome a visiting mission. dependent for their prosperity on their tax-haven status and a visiting mission would be likely to produce unhelpful discussion in the Committee.
Falkland Islands and Dependencies
A visiting mission at this
Sovereignty is claimed by Argentina and renewed discussions on this issue are likely to start soon. time would not be helpful or welcome.
Gibraltar
Sovereignty claimed by Spain. In the preamble to the Constitution, HMG have undertaken never to "enter into arrange- ments under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely expressed wishes". Strategically important. A UN General Assembly Resolution of 18 December 1968, against which HMG voted, recommended that the UK should decolonise Gibraltar by secession to Spain no later than 1 October 1969. HMG's aim and interest lies in trying to avoid exacerbating our differences with Spain. A visit by the Committee would be likely to escalate them.
HMG did invite the Committee to visit Gibraltar in 1967 but this was declined at Spain's instigation.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony
There is no difficulty in principle in accepting a visiting mission to this Colony provided the local Government had been consulted and agreed.
Hong Kong
At the request of China, Hong Kong has been removed from the UN list of non self-governing territories.
Montserrat
No objection to a visiting mission provided the local Government had been consulted and agreed.
CONFIDENTIAL
/13. New Hebrides
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.