7447 1073840 101M 8/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
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CONFIDENTIAL
settlement of this problem. Furthermore, the governments of some countries might interpret the change as evidence that HMG is attempting to divest itself of its responsibilities for these people and use it as a pretext for in- creasing the pressure to leave. We do not expect Amin-type mass expulsions by Commonwealth
Governments.
Nj
b. Indian Sub-Continent
India accepted a number of the Asians expelled from East Africa against an undertaking from HIIG that they would be admitted to the United Kingdom at any time they wished to come. They are estimated to number 39,000 at present. Most of the potential migrants from the Sub- Continent to Britain are not United Kingdom nationals and therefore would not be directly affected by changes in our nationality law. However potential migrants, including dependants of those already settled here, fiancés of both sexes and others, may be led to believe by simult- aneous debate in this country on immigration policy, that controls are about to be stiffened. An example of the effects of misreporting by a London correspondent of an Indian newspaper was provided by a speech made by the External Affairs Minister in the Indian Parliament on 14 May, 1976. Mr Chavan said that on informal enquiry the British Foreign Office had denied the report but he went on to say that the general trend in the United Kingdom since 1962 seemed to be to put
more and more restrictions on immigrants. While he did not want to speculate on the review of the Nationality Act of 1948 "he would not rule out
any eventuality". The Government of India, he said, attached importance to just and humane treatment
being accorded to all those Indian citizens who are
resident in Britain. He went on, "If the British
Government make such changes in the Nationality Act as would smack of racialism, it will be a matter which needs our voice to be raised against it".
CONFIDENTTAT.
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