TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

HKG.025/1

25 000 1979

Nation Taken

Mr Stratton

POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Problem

1.

The Governors of the British Dependent Territories in the

Caribbean at their conference in Barbados last January agreed

that they would welcome clarification of certain aspects of

current government policy towards the Dependent Territories.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that a despatch should be addressed to all

officers administering governments of Dependent Territories

on the lines of the attached draft.

1

3つ

Background.

3.

For the past 34 years, successive British Governments

have followed a policy of giving every help and encouragement

to colonies wishing to become independent (provided it was feasible

for them to do so), while not forcing independence on those that

did not want it. This policy is well understood, and there is no

reason to seek to change it. But the discussions in Barbados last

January revealed that there was some uncertainty about certain

aspects of the way this policy should be put into effect.

particular, it emerged that clarification would be welcome on

the following points:-

In

a) How far constitutional development should be allowed

to proceed in territories where independence is not

contemplated in the foreseeable future;

/b)

CONFIDENTIAL