TNAG-0719-FCO40-917-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 46

From The Minister of State

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

12 January 1978

62

David Owen, who is out of the country at the moment, has

asked me to reply to your letter of 20 December about the recent

executions in Bermuda,

(29

Your letter brings out the predicament we found ourselves in over this case. It was a very difficult decision to have to

make, particularly for someone who, like Dr Owen, is a convinced opponent of capital punishment. I know he will understand, and sympathize with the way you feel. But, at the same time, he had to take account of the constraints that govern his actions as Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

In nearly all of our remaining dependent territories a large degree of internal self-government has been devolved upon the locally elected representatives. It may be that they some- times make decisions about their own affairs with which we do

not agree.

We can, and in this case we certainly did let them

know what we feel about such matters. But the ultimate decision

is theirs.

Notwithstanding all this as you yourself have noted, David Owen has announced his willingness to reconsider our policy

on executions in Dependent Territories if Parliament so recommends.

Lee 30

Submission

See 169 further letter

C Bagnall Esq

10 Lennox Gardens

Croydon Surrey

!

(Frank Judd)

HKG 38071

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 16 JAN 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

No

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

J.J. &