TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 159

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

In Confidence

TERRITORY:

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY

POPULATION: No permanent residents

SPECIAL FACTORS: Established in 1965 for Anglo-American defence purposes.

The removal of about 1000 inhabitants to

Mauritius between 1965 and 1973 remains a controversial issue. British forces now make only very occasional use of the territory, though the communications base at Diego Garcia remains important to the Americans.

PROSPECTS FOR INDEPENDENCE: None: we are committed to

returning the territory to Mauritius if our need for the facilities disappears.

RECOMMENDED POLICY: Retain the territory with its present status until both we and the Americans decide that the defence facilities can be relinquished;

Mauritius.

and then return it to

CONFIDENTIAL