TNAG-0715-FCO40-911-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-4 — Page 98

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

for this type of membership rather than full membership: but if you believe that it might strengthen your Government's resolve in considering independence to be aware of this less onerous option to full membership of the Commonwealth, we should be glad to send you fuller details.

7.

Unfortunately, attempts to introduce a similar arrange- ment for UN membership have proved inconclusive, mainly because of the difficulty of agreeing acceptable criteria for deciding between different types of membership.

8.

Certain territories are also known to feel apprehensive that independence, by putting an end to Britain's respon- sibility for their defence, would leave them exposed to external aggression. Should such fears be expressed in your territory, you could attempt to answer them by.

9. This Despatch is being addressed to the Governors of Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Gilbert Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena and Dependencies, Turks and Caicos Islands, and to the British Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides.

10. Copies for information are being sent to the Governor of Hong Kong and to the heads of the following DS missions

list as in paragraph 12 of 1975 Despatch7

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

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