TNAG-0601-FCO40-749-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 57

•

CONFIDENTIAL

COLONIAL PRISONERS' REMOVAL ACT, TO SERVE THEIR SENTENCES IN THE UK, UNDERSTANDABLE ANXIETIES SHOULD BE SET AT REST. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP CONTAIN ANY ADVERSE REACTION TO A DECISION TO

REPRIEVE.

9.

IN CONCLUSION, MY VIEWS ON THE ADVICE WHICH YOU SHOULD GIVE THE QUEEN ARE THAT

(A) THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN BERMUDA IS A MATTER WHICH OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE TERRITORY'S LEGISLATURE. (ANOTHER ACCOMPANYING TELEGRAM CONTAINS FURTHER COMMENT ABOUT THIS) :

AND

(B) FOR THE REASONS I HAVE GIVEN ABOVE, I MUST RECOMMEND THAT THE LAW SHOULD TAKE ITS COURSE EVEN THOUGH I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU MAY DECIDE THAT UK OPINION MUST BE THE DECISIVE CONSIDERATION.

RAMSBOTHAM

FILES

HK&GD PS

FS/PUS

SIR A DUFF MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

COPIES TO:

SIR J SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISERS

-3-

CONFIDENTIAL