TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 42

Mr Quantrill, HK&G

Sep.menah

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Duff (WIAD)

(w/38

As you will see from the minute below. I have now obtained the Rushford's conformation that the despatch is acceptable to the Legal Advises. I think you are better qualified than I am to reply to points b) and c)

in the Burns' minute!

POLICY TOWARDS DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

W.E. Quantrill

Before I put this rather good draft despatch to the PUS I should be grateful for clarification on one or two points:

1819

a.

May I take it that the Legal Advisers concur?

b.

C.

I think the PUS would wish to have a slightly fuller note on the nature of the fundamental responsibilities which you recommend that Governors should retain, indicating both the range of powers involved and the particular pitfalls we have encountered, or can envisage, if too much is delegated (the PUS will wish to be clearer himself about these minimum reserved powers and may well wish to attach a note on them to the submission, in clarification of the arguments in paragraph 4).

Paragraph 6 of the despatch raises two separate questions:

i. The first concerns our policy that the reasonable needs of the Dependent Territories will continue to be a first call on our Aid Programme. I have not doubt that this is sensible and I would not contest the reference if you can confirm that it is not controversial. But our Aid Programme is under heavy attack in Cabinet and I know from Mr Stratton's minute of 10 August to Mr Hurd that there may be some disposition on the part of others to demote the interests of the Dependent Territories. so, I fear that the case will have to be argued in greater detail.

If

ii. I have rather similar reservations about the second point in the paragraph which relates to how ambitious we should be in the objectives we set our development aid. Frankly, in the present climate, there seems to me to be no point in allowing the Secretary of State to tie himself in this despatch to the Governors to promises which he will be unable to honour.

12 September 1979

CONFIDENTIAL

R.Anan

RA Burns PS/PUS