IMMEDIATE
GPS 180
CYPHER/CAT A
FM F C 0 30145OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 301600Z
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy for HRAD files.
TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON TELNO PERSONAL 37 OF 30 NOVEMBER
EXECUTIONS
1. ARTICLE IN TODAY'S GUARDIAN BY PATRICK KEATLEY REPORTS ARRIVAL IN LONDON OF MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION PLP IN FINAL ATTEMPT TO SAVE BURROWS AND TACKLYN. THEY LOBBIED LABOUR MPS LAST NIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO GET AN EMERGENCY DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.
2. THEIR CASE IS THAT THE TRIAL JURY'S RACIAL BALANCE OF NINE WHITES AND THREE BLACKS DID NOT REFLECT RACIAL BALANCE OF ISLAND AS A WHOLE AND THEIR MAJORITY VERDICT WAS SPLIT ON RACIAL LINES...
THEY SAY THE HANGING WILL WRECK HOPES OF RACIAL AMITY IN FERMUDA.
3. KEATLEY COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE FOUND YOURSELF PITCHED INTO A POLITICAL STORM AND THAT IF THE EXECUTIONS GO AHEAD YOUR POLICE FORCE, MOSTLY WHITE EXPATRIATES, WILL FACE THEIR MOST SEVERE TEST IN MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER. THE PLP'S QUOTE DECISION TO
CHAMPION THE CAUSE FOR REPRIEVE HAS TURNED THE MURDER INTO A
POLITICAL CRISIS UNQUOTE,
4. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE. IT
WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR REPORT OF PUBLIC REACTION TO
THE NEWS OF THE EXECUTIONS. YOU MAY CONSIDER THAT WHILE
EXECUTIONS MAY CARRY THE RISK OF ACCOMPANYING DISORDER AND OF
DAMAGE TO RACIAL HARMONY, REPRIEVES WOULD HAVE MORE SERIOUS
REPERCUSSIONS SINCE IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF BERMUDA AS
A WHOLE SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND THAT THIS SUPPORT IS
SPREAD ACROSS RACIAL LINES. WE ASSUME THAT YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT
POLICE CAN DEAL WITH ANY TROUBLE THAT ARISES.
218
5. AS YOU KNOW OVERSEAS POLICE ADVISER IS VISITING BERMUDA TOMORROW,
OWEN
FILES WIAD (5)
HK & GD
OPA
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/PUS
MR STRATTON
нка
380/1
RACE
.SI
- 2 DEC 1977
NEWS D PS
PS/MR ROWLANDS
MR CORTAZZI
MR POSNETT
CONFIDENTIAL
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