TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 125

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(d)

(e)

Those territories in the middle of regional political controversies, Belize, Gibraltar, Falklands etc - We should not be ashamed or afraid, consider it dishonourable in any way to seek the best possible permanent future for them by negotiation. The alternative is to condemn them to perpetual insecurity the pawns in an internal political game played in those countries with whom we have a dispute.

However, there will still be a few territories (I think of St Helena) for which there is neither a regional, nor an independence road. These we should accept as the willing and continuing charge upon the British taxpayer We should help and pay with generosity

in perpetuity. I cannot think of a more humane cause upon which to spend 00x% of our additional revenue from oil.

Let me try to summarize the objectives of Britain's other Foreign Policy. The aim could not be to "sell out" or to act as a later day, Imperial Fontius Pilate, washing our hands of tricky problems. The aim would be wherever possible -'to change a series of anachronistic ties into workable modern political and economic relationship S Disengaging from historic constitutional links would free us to re-engage in a modern way with the real problems facing

/our