TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 114

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d.

doubt whether this is attainable in present circumstances. We should not build too much on what is a doubtful starter.

Page 10, para (e). There is an alternative for territories like St Helena or Pitcairn - viz evacuate the population and resettle in Britain. The difficulties of this are great. British immigration laws, which have already led to greater

But the unemployment in St Helena, would have to be relaxed. numbers involved are really very small. In the long term it would be cheaper to offer the inhabitans generous life pensions and compensation for their present property as well as resettlement grants rather than subsidise them in remote and uneconomic spots. This could also be the case with the Falkland Islanders. But some would probably not want to leave their homes however generous the terms. We could hardly compel people to leave and we should be open to criticism at home and abroad if we left such people to fend for themselves in a hostile cli- mate. However this is a serious option which may need to be put to the people in some non-viable islands such as St Helena.

22 February 1978

cc:PS

PS/PUS

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Has Calif.

HAH Cortazzi

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

PS/Mr Luard

Mr Graham

Mr Stratton

Mr Hall

Mr Posnett

Mr Crowe, Planning Staff

Heads of: MCD; WIAD; PDTD: HKGD; News Dept; CCD

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