TNAG-0597-FCO40-744-Future-of-Dependent-Territories-territorial-studies-1977 — Page 113

CONFIDENTIAL

DDED

HASED

WIND

3

GILBER ISLANDS

EONG EUNG

IMONTSERRAT

NEW HEBRIDES

Present Constitution and Prospects for Independence

Internal

Ministerial Constitution introduced 1974. self government 1 January 1977. Independence Conference in "977 aiming at independence in mid 1978.

No constitutional progress is possible and independence is not an option.

Advanced Ministerial Constitution in force since 1960. The recple show no desire for in

and a Visiting UN Mission was assuredence

they were happy as they were. Their membership of CARICOM and of the Associated State Council of Ministers may spur them by example.

•

Anglo-French Condominium. Constitutional development had been at a standstill,. until Anglo/French agreement in November 1974 to establish a Representative Assembly, with wide responsibilities, elected by universal suffrage. 3lections held in November 1975. At inaugural meeting of Assembly in June 1976 joint ministerial statement publicly affirmed cur policy of self-determination. inglo- French Ministerial meeting in October 1976 privately agreed that independence was our joint uim. It was announced that in 1977 the Representative Assembly should elect its own President and that the Assembly Committees should be increasinly involved in the work of the joint administration, thus paring the way to internal self-government (privately expected in about 3 years time).

Considerations affecting

Folicy

Not grant-aided. Aid policy will have to be reviewed in context of independence and eventual end of phosphate

revenues.

Economically viable: no aid questions arise. Individual territorial study not required.

Grant-aided. Unlikely to

become economically viable unless in association with others.

Grant-aided: little likelihood of becoming economically viable. A