TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 112

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PS/Mr Rowlands

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CONFIDENTIAL HKG 025/2

RECEIVED 10 Sep

23 FEB 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

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REGISTRY Action Take:

A+ pu

34

Liste

BRITAIN'S OTHER FOREIGN POLICY

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J.J.

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1. In your minute of 17 February you invited comments on Mr Rowlands's notes on this subject. Although, as Mr Rowlands concedes (page 5), they provide largely "descriptions rather than prescriptions" they seem to me valuable in focussing attention on an area of foreign policy in which we still have some scope for unilateral initiative. I particularly agree with the complaint in the final sentence on page 6.

2. I have two general comments. As far as the Caribbean is concerned I wonder whether it is realistic to speak of "seeing the future in regional terms" and bringing the Associated States to independence not only within a reasonable time scale, but "within a Caribbean regional political framework". Quite apart from our dismal experience over the Caribbean Federation, the present omens do not strike a newcomer as good: in as much as, behind a barrage of co-operative verbiage, even close neighbours seem un-willing to work together over practical matters. But I hope I may be proved wrong.

3.

I quite see the attraction of more open discussion of our remaining "colonial" problems, stimulated perhaps by the issue of a White Paper. But I wonder whether this too may not prove impractical. To be of value such discussion would have to be based on realistic, specific examples which, however allegedly "imaginary", would soon be seen through. This would inevitably complicate further a solution of the problems of the territories cited. same objection would not of course apply to frank discussion of the problems of individual territories in reliable, confidential fora such as Chatham House.

The

4. Once the New Hebrides have attained independence in the second half of 1980 we shall of course have in the Pacific a residual, St Helena-style-plus colonial problem in the shape of Pitcairn Island and its 65 inhabitants with its Governor sitting some 2,000 miles away in New Zealand.

22 February 1978

Cc:

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Crowe, Planning Staff Mr Posnett

Heads of: WIAD, PDTD, HK&ØD

R J Stratton

CONFIDENTIAL