TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 159

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THE GILBERT ISLANDS WOULD SUCCEED TO THE AGREEMENT AT

INDEPENDENCE AND IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR GILBERTESE MINISTERS TO TAKE PART IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE U.S. SIDE WERE KEEN THAT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE THE GILBERTESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SIGN THE AGREEMENT AS DEMONSTRATING A STRONGER COMMITMENT THAN A NORMAL U.S./U.K. SIGNATURE. GIVEN THE EARLY PROSPECT OF INDEPENDENCE, THIS

WOULD BE USEFUL WHEN THE AGREEMENT VENT TO THE U.S. CONGRESS FOR APPROVAL. WE UNDERTOOK TO SEEK YOUR VIEWS ON WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MEET THEIR POINT.

1.5.

4. OAKLEY SAID THEY WOULD AIM TO SEND US A WORKING PAPER, NOT AN OFFICIAL U.S. PROPOSAL) BY 15 FEBRUARY SO THAT ANY COMMENTS YOU OR THE COVERNOR HAD COULD BE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF IN ADVANCE OF A FORMAL U.S. PROPOSAL, MEANWHILE, HE WOULD SEEK INTER-AGENCY APPROVAL FOR THE CONDOMINIUM APPROACH. WE UNDERTOOK TO SEEK YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF THE GILBERTESE TO CONFIRM THAT AN ARRANGEMENT ON THESE LINES WAS IN PRINCIPLE ACCEPTABLE. ONCE OUR COMMENTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED HE SUGGESTED THE FORMAL U.S. PROPOSAL WOULD BE PUT FORWARD PERHAPS IN MARCH SO THAT DELEGATES COULD MEET IN WASHINGTON IN APRIL/MAY TO CONCLUDE AND SIGN A NEW AGREEMENT.

5.

OAKLEY SAID IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR CONGRESSIONAL REASONS TO RENOUNCE THE OTHER U.S. CLAIMS AT THE SAME TIME AS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE CONDOMINIUM ARRANGEMENT. THEY WOULD CONSIDER HOW TIIS MIGHT BEST BE DONE. WE POINTED OUT THE COMPLICATION THIS MIGHT CAUSE FOR TUVALU (MY TEL NO 285) BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT SEE NO POSSIBILITY FOR CONGRESSIONAL REASONS OF REMOVING THEIR CLAIMS TO TUVALU IN ADVANCE OF A SATICAFACTORY SETTLEMENT IN RESPECT OF C.E.H. ISLANDS.

JAY

FILES

PDTD(6)

N.A.D

MAED

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR.CORTAZZI

MR.STRATTON

MR.GRAHAM MR.HAIL

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