TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 120

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What does one do about dependencies whose

local governments policies create local dis-

turbances and who then expect us to bail

them out.

The problems of the microstate.

What do we do about governments which are likely

to be continually dependent on us. The role of

Aid Policy.

I realise that these remarks are descriptions of the problems

rather than prescriptions. Prescriptions are not easy. If

they were the problems would not have hung around a succession

of ministers and officials in the Colonial Office, the

Commonwealth

Office and now the Foreign and Commonwealth

Office. As I deal with most of these problems I feel like

the Minister for insoluble problems(or almost insoluble ones)

trying to reconcile the irreconcilable. If I was prone to

depression, I should have been depressed for the last 21 years.

One of the reasons why these problems have remained is that

they are subject to the most curious reactions of the media

and public. In Britain since the major translation from

Empire to Commonwealth

the great African independent states

opinion on the remainder of our "Empire" oscillates between

sheer neglect and disinterest to immediate indignation when

anyone tries to grapple with the dilemma facing the small

There is no decent debate or argument;

dependent territories.

/only

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