TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 163

CODE 18 - 17

Miss Reblane. Plos64

MA DUPE WIND.

k.

MR DIFLE WIND. CONFIDENTIAL Mr. BICKFORD Legal Adurses.

Mi ButtTic

Then R&R.

MY BARL TRUP CCD JJ2411

Mr Jasper Hong Kong & General Dept.

RECEIVED IN

Reference

HKG 025/2

25 JAN 1978

DESK OFFILLI INDEX

10. 51

REGISTRY

Action Taken

REVIEW OF POLICY OF ACCELERATED DECOLONISATION

PA

你 J.J. &

све

1. In his minute to you of 11 January Mr Sanders said that detailed comments from relevant Regional Directors would follow.

2.

Atlantic Region has the following comments:

(a) In the case of Caribbean dependencies, the special

interests of the United States in the area should be taken into account, e.g. its wish to continue using facilities on certain islands for US naval bases and its concern that some indirect general control over small states in the area should be exercised by a country which views its policies favourably.

(b) English speaking governments of independent Caribbean

states may support the United Kingdom in the United Nations, particularly over Belize. It would be as well therefore to consult them as early as possible about cases where accelerated decolonisation is under active consideration.

(c) Mr Hainworth's minute (13 January) refers to the need

to resolve quarrels about fishing, seabed resources, etc. before independence. This also applies to Caribbean dependencies.

_(d) para. 8 of your paper. In the Caribbean context the

possibility of establishing a security force from local dependent and independent territories for use in Dependent Territories (e.g. the recent Bermuda crises) is perhaps worth consideration.

(e) Your paper notes (paragraph 3(d)(iii))that decolonisation is not an option for Gibraltar. It would be more correct to say that since the Treaty of Utrecht gives "first refusal", independence is not an option. The Spaniards are pressing and the UN has accepted that Gibraltar should be decolonised under the principle of territorial integrity.

Work5

I F PORTER Atlantic Region Research Department

24 January 1978

Copy to

Miss Binns, Planning Staff

Mr Posnett, Dependent Territories Adviser

Mr Steward, HKGD

Mr Quantrill, HKGD

17