TNAG-0599-FCO40-747-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 82

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

Telephone XX400 2-2587

Deputy Governor's Office

Hamilton 5-24. Bermuda

31

DGO 1/1

HSH Stanley Esq CMG

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

London

Dear Hurry,

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 27 JUN 177

HKG 380/

9 June, 1977

M' Stepout

Hefur mimbe

1

aques

with para 4.

[ exputto su bu I Sharpe again.

the disinclined to refer t

but am Finn, at mecting.

14

any

cute heppe M. Rowlands

верия what do you

Many thanks for your personal and confidential letter of 31 May about this subject.

kunk ?

48 14/16

2.

I have had a private word with Lois Browne-Evans, suggesting that she present a petition on Tacklyn's behalf at this stage as his lawyer, leaving any Progressive Labour Party petition (which is bound to take time to prepare, as the Party wants to secure as many signatories as possible) to follow later. She seemed inclined to think this a sensible course of action, though whether she will actually follow it I cannot be sure. I will try to pursue the matter with her again when she gets back here next week: she is just going away to the Bahamas for a short holiday.

3.

One other development may be worth mentioning. As you will perhaps have seen from a report in the "Royal Gazette" a few days ago, a leading UBP supporter who is personally opposed to capital punish- ment suggested publicly that there should be a referendum on the issue. The same suggestion had in fact been floated at a Cabinet meeting on 31 May, the conclusion then reached being that the Attorney General should be asked to attend the next meeting with a view to giving advice on the procedure for taking a referendum. He was not in the event summoned to this week's meeting, probably because Quinton Edness (who is acting as Premier in Jack's absence) decided to hold the matter over until Jack had returned. It nevertheless seems likely to get a further airing then and if by any chance you see Jack himself during the next few days you may like to raise the subject with him.

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

Cont'd