TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 150

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to divert resources to the dependent territories from tasks of more vital concern, and of course our being tarred with the colonialist brush will always be a draw-

back in the UN and other international fora.

3.

Nonetheless, it must be repeated that our policy is not to seek to rid ourselves of colonial responsibility against the wishes or best interests of the people in the

territories concerned. We shall continue to do all we

can whenever possible to create the conditions in which

practicable independence becomes feasible. But we accept that for several territories the continuation of the present relationship of dependency is likely to be what makes most sense, as well as being what the population want and we shall not be deterred from agreeing to this by the fact that the relationship carries certain disadvantages for

Britain.

4. In the past, we have also considered whether there were any alternatives to independence, other than the present colonial relationship, which might be appropriate in certain territories where full independence seems

unlikely. Possibilities that have been considered

include:

i.

associated statehood;

5.

ii. integration with the UK;

iii.

iv.

V.

vi.

federation within a regional grouping; integration with a third country; UN trusteeship, or some other form of control by an international organisation;

abandonment.

aud

and practicable alternatives to independence We remain willing to consider all such possibilities if they are believed to be appropriate in individual cases. But there are practical objections to all of the above listed solutions, which mean that none of them is clearly preferable as a general policy objective to the simple choice between independence or continued dependency on the present lines. Our experience with associated statehood suggests that this status has no special advantages as an alternative to full internal self government as a stage on the road to independence. unlikely therefore that we shall ever again agree to the

Sexy

It is

creation of new associated states. But (i) St Helena (iii) or (iv) Bermuda, Montserrat, and even (VI) (Pitcairn) cannot be ruled out.

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