TNAG-0602-FCO40-750-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 69

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TO FLASH UKREP BRUSSELS TEL NO 2270 OF 5 DECEMBER

FOLLOWING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE FROM RESIDENT CLERK

GOVERNOR OF BERMUDA RANG AT 2230 HOURS TO PASS FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO YOU FROM PREMIER OF BERMUDA.

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BEGINS: A REUTERS REPORT HANDED TO ME TODAY CREDITS YOU WITH SAYING IN THE HOUSE THAT YOU HAD HAD TO ACCEPT THE GOVERNOR OF BERMUDA'S ADVICE AND RECOMMEND TO QUEEN ELIZABETH THAT THE EXECUTIONS GO AHEAD. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD TO ACCEPT HIS ADVICE WHICH IN ANY CASE I UNDERSTAND WAS QUALIFIED IN TERMS THAT TED ROWLANDS HAD HINTED TO ME IN LONDON. I BELIEVE THAT THE FORM OF YOUR STATEMENT HAS CREATED AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY RISK FOR THE GOVERNOR WHICH WE HAVE STRIVEN TO AVOID. IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENTS. THE OMLY INTERPRETATION THAT ANY REASONABLE PERSON CAN PLACE ON YOUR STATEMENT WOULD BE THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS VIRTUALLY ALONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXECUTIONS. IN MY VIEW, UNLESS THIS IS CORRECTED, HE AND HIS FAMILY CAN ONLY BE INORDINATELY EXPOSED FROM THE SECURITY POINT OF VIEW AND ANY CONTRIBUTION HE CAN MAKE AS GOVERNOR SERIOUSLY CURTAILED.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER URGENTLY ISSUING A STATEMENT CLARIFYING THE POSITION ON THE BASIS OF YOUR RESPONSE TO THE PETITION WHICH I FEEL ACCURATELY SUMMARISED THE SITUATION OR ALTERNATIVELY YOUR ANSWER TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION BY MR MOATE MP TODAY SIGNED J.D. GIBBONS PREMIER ENDS.

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