TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 158

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT

TERRITORIAL SURVEY

Type 1 +

From

To:-

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

DSR 11

TERRITORY: BERMUDA

In Confidence

POPULATION:

57,000 (estimated)

SPECIAL FACTORS:

None, other than its small land area and

great wealth.

PROSPECTS FOR INDEPENDENCE: At present the local preference is probably to remain dependent, but the constitutional issues raised by the Report of the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the 1977 Disturbances may accelerate the process towards independence. A White Paper on independence is due to be published shortly by the Bermuda Government. Bermuda is unlikely to become independent for at least three to five

years.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO INDEPENDENCE: Union or association

with the United States.

RECOMMENDED POLICY: The first priority is to increase con- fidence between the races and to eliminate inequalities, particularly in the electoral and constitutional fields. When this is achieved, Bermuda will be ready to move to independence. Meanwhile we should accept that for the time being Bermuda will remain a dependent territory but seek in all ways to create the will and objective conditions for independence.

CONFIDENTIAL