TNAG-0597-FCO40-744-Future-of-Dependent-Territories-territorial-studies-1977 — Page 172

CONFIDENTIAL

Nations on the Caymans, which will inevitably bear also on the other Islands. And I have arranged with Mr Anyaoku of the Commonwealth Secretariat that we should resume our interrupted discussions on what we have nicknamed the "mini-states problem" as soon as the CHGM is over.

7. It would therefore be helpful if Mr Rowlands would give us a further steer. Would he agree to the Department proceeding on the following lines:-

(a)

as our present policies in the Islands have led us into a blind alley (attached note) we should make an early new attempt to move them all to independence;

(b) we should do this on the lines of paragraph 8 of

the attached note, omitting any reference to alternatives in the first stage of negotiations but making it clear that we are unwilling to go on as we are, and have no soft options to offer;

(c) in the light of progress in these negotiations,

we should study further alternative policies for any of the Islands that still refuse to budge?

28 April 1977

cc (with enclosure):

Mr Cortazzi

✓Mr Stewart

Miss Stoddart

(HKGD) (WIAD)

Mr Simpson-Orlebar (UND)

CONFIDENTIAL

HSH Stanley