TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 10

SEMINAR ON THE FUTURE OF BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: 24-26 SEPTEMBER 1979 INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES:

SUMMARY OF POINTS MADE IN DISCUSSIONS

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SESSION 1: GENERAL POLICY TOWARDS DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Overall Policy

It was felt that the FCO paper sounded curiously old-fashioned in still seeing the problem as one of decolonisation, a phase that ended long ago. The problem is now to decide what is the future for the remaining dependent territories in a regional and hemi- spherical context.

The UN Attitude

Certain participants expressed surprise at the apparent concern But it was pointed out that, felt by the FCO over UN pressure. while this was not particularly significant while things were going well, when things went wrong the UN reaction to our coloni-

Nonetheless, it was pointed alist image could be very damaging.

out that we tried to decide policies on the merits of situations and not looking over our shoulder all the time at the UN reaction.

British Policy

Our policy should

It is all very

The will for empire no longer exists in Britain. be determined by our perceived national interest. well to say we should be guided by the wishes of the population, but those wishes will vary according to the circumstances of the

We also need to bear in mind what pressure options offered them.

is put on British policies by our membership of wider alliances. For the next two years at least, we must also recognise that less money is going to be available for aid, but the reasonable needs of the dependencies should continue to have first call on the aid

programme.

The Interest of the Dependent Territories

Independence is to the benefit of the dependent territories because it widens their options. But it does not end our obligations. Nor should we necessarily see the question as a strictly bilateral issue between Britain and the territories concerned: priate, we should seek to involve other countries in seeking regional solutions.

SESSION 2: THE AIMS OF AID

where appro-

Sir Bruce Greatbatch suggested that the aims of aid to the small

to assist island dependent territories were the same as for all them to develop their economy both public and private, to raise Official aid can only oil standards of living, to create jobs.

/the