TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 66

GRS 1000A

IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 251706Z

CONFIDENTIAL

REC

17KG 3861 нка

30 OCT 1978

DEAK OFFIC...

INDEX

No

PA

vila

NC. 51

REGISTRY

Action Taken

TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON TELNO 181 OF 25 OCTOBER

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: THE PITT REPORT.

1. LORD BROCKWAY HAS PUT DOWN A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER ON 8 NOVEMBER. AS MR ROWLANDS WILL BE ABROAD NEXT WEEK, WE WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A DRAFT REPLY AND SUPPLEMENTARIES THROUGH

HIM BEFORE THE WEEKEND.

2.

LORD BROCKWAY'S QUESTION IS: QUOTE TO ASK HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WHAT CONCLUSIONS THEY HAVE REACHED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED IN THE REPORT BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF LORD PITT ON THE CAUSE OF THE RIOTS IN BERMUDA IN DECEMBER 1977 UNQUOTE.

3. WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING DRAFT REPLY: QUOTE THE BRITISH GOVERNMEN CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN LORD PITT'S EXCELLENT REPORT TO BE OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO THE FUTURE OF BERMUDA. IMPLEMENTATION IS PRIMARILY A MATTER FOR THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT WITH WHOM MY HON FRIEND IN ANOTHER PLACE, THE MINISTER OF STATE (MR ROWLANDS) RECENTLY EXCHANGED VIEWS AND WITH WHOM WE REMAIN IN REGULAR CONTACT THROUGH THE GOVERNOR. UNQUOTE

4.

WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES:

THE MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION IN THE REPORT. (LAST 7 WORDS UNDERLINED)

ALTHOUGH THE CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS ARE OF MOST DIRECT CONCERN TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WE BELIEVE THE REPORT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE. THE WIDE-RANGING NATURE OF ITS ANALYSIS AND ITS FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH ARE ITS MAIN STRENGTHS.

OBJECTIVE OF MR ROWLANDS' VISIT. (LAST FOUR WORDS UNDERLINED) MY HON FRIEND EXCHANGED VIEWS WITH THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT, THE OPPOSITION AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS ON THE REPORT GENERALLY AND ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS CONSTITUTIONAL AND

CONFIDENTIAL

ELECTORAL