TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 15

were acquired by us by occupation at this period (sometimes merely by

027

Spanish neglect to occupy their discoveries) and were settled mainly by

planters in the first half of the 17th century, and though most suffere

intermittent French conquests and British re-conquests, they remained British thereafter. (The exception of St Lucia is mentioned below).-

Similarly, all the 5 other W.Indian S.D's. not at present Associated

States, Bermuda, British Virgin Is., Montserrat, the Caymans and the

Turks & Caicos were acquired by us by occupation in the first half of

the 17th century, and settled and planted' for the most part similarly.

Though also changing hands intermittently with the French by war-time

otherwise captures in the 18th century (especially Hontserrat), they remained

firmly in British occupation throughout. Montserrat had a largely Irish

settlement from 1632, the Turks & Caicos received a considerable access- ion of loyalist colonists from our American colonies after/American independence in 1783, and Bermuda is distinguished by having been cont-

inuously in British hands since its first settlement by the Virginia

Company (partly from the colonists on mainland Virginia) in 1609.

the

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958

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