TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 59

YW52

Mr Levoir, HK & GD

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55

Reference

CONSERVATIVE PARTY POLICY ON THE DTs: FALKLAND ISLANDS

A

I refer to your minute of 6 April.

2. The possible integration of the Falkland Islands into the UK is not an option which has been considered in recent years and is certainly not part of our present thinking. The question has, however, been raised in the past by the Falkland Islands Committee. Our line has been that integration would not lessen the Argentine claim, nor would it change the existing geographical and economic facts of life. The Committee seem to have accepted this, for in 1974 they said in a paper:- "The colonial status of the Islands is agreed to be indefensible in 1974, but even if the Islands were to become an integral part of the UK, there would only be an alteration in their status on paper the Islands would still be 7,000 miles away, the population still only 1,900 and declining further ..".

10 April 1978

HKG 025/2 нка

RECEIVED

-

се

PHO. 51

19 APR 1978

DESK OFFICER

C W Osborne

Borne

South America Department 233 3386

B

INDEX

PA

REGISTHY Action Taken

по

пи

CODE 18 - N

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