TNAG-0719-FCO40-917-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 32

CONFIDENTI AL

3.

not to pre-empt the course of that debate. Consequently, I suggest we should introduce legislation and, in the mean time, suspend the implementation of the Creech-Jones doctrine or commit us simply to an abrogation of Creech-Jones.

7.

Traditionally the issue of capital punishment has always been raised by a Back-Bencher. However, I suggest that in this case the matter should be debated on a

Government Motion, because it is a matter concerning the population of the overseas dependencies for which the Government has a more direct responsibility; and because the Creech-Jones doctrine was a Government measure and it would be more appropriate for the Government to move to modify it. I attach a draft of the sort of wording I would prefer,

8.

I invite my colleagues to concur in these proposals.

CONFIDENTIAL