TNAG-0598-FCO40-745-Involvement-of-United-Nations-with-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 37

HKG 025/3

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„CONFIDENTIAL,

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FUTURE OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES tháil

1. I agree with your comment contained in paragraph 3 of your minute

說起

13 May that we need not be too concerned with the United Nations aspect of the'¡¡ɔ· future of Dependent Territories. Our comparatively slow process of decolonisation is based on practical considerations of the wishes of the people - political, financial etc. Of course, if the process can be accelerated with the consent of the people of the Territories and we are taken off the UN hook so much the better. Mr Richard makes an interesting point in paragraph 9 of folio 2 in suggesting that once the problems of Namibia and Rhodesia are satisfactorily settled the UN Committee of 24 and the General Assembly may no longer be too closely concerned with the smaller Dependent Territories. They may then be more inclined to accept "near-independence" as a satisfactory status for Territories unable or unwilling to become fully independent.

2.

The present position regarding independence for the remaining Dependent Territories is:-

a)

b)

c)

DES close to independence:- Solomons - Internal self-government in January 1976 - should become independent early 1978; Gilberts achieved Internal self-government January 1977 this could lead to independence in mid to late 1978. Tuvalu is expected to proceed to Internal self-government in late 1977 and may go for independence in the following year or two. British and French Ministers will meet a New Hebridean Delegation in Paris in mid-July to discuss new elections and stages leading to independence.

Territories which may be urged more speedily towards self- government and eventually independence - Bermuda; Turks and Caicos; Montserrat; Caymans; BVI and Anguilla.

Independence is not a viable proposition for Gibraltar, Falklands, St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn, BIOT and BAT.

d)

Hong Kong is a special case.

3. The next step appears to be for the early completion of the individual studies on Dependent Territories particularly those in the Caribbean area, since it is the Caribbean territories which should be able to achieve independence given the right 'nudge' and therefore thought should concentrate on them. The facts and conclusions drawn from these studies would be a basis for the decolonisation policies to cover the remaining territories. (The drafts are at present with Mr Duff, WIAD)

CONFIDENTIAL

14.