TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 68

CONFIDENTIAL

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YES SIR.

WHEN WOULD A CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE BE HELD? (LAST 7 WORDS UNDERLINED)

THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED.

D) INDEPENDENCE

WE HAVE NOTED THE REPORT'S CONCLUSION THAT BERMUDA

SHOULD MOVE TO INDEPENDENCE. WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS

A MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF BERMUDA TO DECIDE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT

THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT WILL BE PUBLISHING A WHITE PAPER ON THE SUBJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. INDEPENDENCE IS NOT (NOT) ONE OF THE

ISSUES MY HON FRIEND DISCUSSED DURING HIS RECENT VISIT.

DEFENSIVE.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.( LAST 12 WORDS UNDERLINED)

IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENSION, AS MY RT HON FRIEND SAID IN ANOTHER PLACE ON 5 DECEMBER 1977, TO SEEK TO FIND OUT PARLIAMENT'S VIEW ON THE MATTER. BUT THIS IS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT

AND WE HAVE NOT DECIDED WHEN AND HOW IT WOULD BE BEST TO RAISE IT.

THE EXECUTIONS OF BURROWS AND TACKLYN SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE. (LAST 11 WORDS UNDERLINED)

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AS MY RT HON FRIEND THE SECRETARY OF STATE EXPLAINED IN ANOTHER

PLACE ON 5 DECEMBER 1977, THE DECISION NOT REPEAT NOT TO ADVISE

HER MAJESTY TO INTERVENE WAS TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY LAID DOWN BY THE THEN SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES, MR ARTHUR CREECH-JONES. THE GOVERNMENT HAD PARTICULARLY IN MIND THE

DECISION BY THE BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1975 TO RETAIN CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT.

THE HANGINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCES. (LAST 8 WORDS - UNDERLINED) -

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