CONFIDENTIAL
Parliamentary statement will be made early in February, leading, it is hoped, to a Ministerial visit to the Islands (and to Argentina) for direct discussions on the future of the Islands with the Islanders themselves. The early pub- lication of a Green Paper would seriously pre- judice such Ministerial talks.
a.Rhodesia
Publication of the proposals this winter would be untimely. Although they would benefit from the provisions for maintaining the entry rights of those who now have them, many of the estimated 155,000 CUKCs and citizens of Rhodesia, who at present have the right to come to this country would believe that the proposals were designed to close the door to them. This could lead them to decide to leave Rhodesia in large numbers.
3. Associated States
Their Governments may consider it inappropriate at this s in their constitutional development that the British Parlifet should legislate for their inhabitants to become British Overseas Citizens from the date of coming into force of the ner Act, which is unlikely to be before late 1979. They may proder to activate the dormant citizenship clauses of their own non- stitutions. The governments should be given a chance to couider their position before the publication of HMG's proposals.
4. "Old" Members of the Commonwealth
a. Austrlia and New Zealand
People of British origin in these countries have strong ties of family and blood with the United Kingdom and resent being treated in the same way as Commonwealth citizens elsewhere who have no such ties. The proposals would tend to weaken links which are important to us commercially, professionally, socially and in other ways, would be interpreted as further evidence of a tendency for Britain to become more narrowly nationalistic in its outlook and attitudes.
and
Mhone
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