TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 44

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b) whether British policy, especially aid policy, should

c)

always be directed towards the creation of conditions

which would make independence sustainable;

whether the British Government remain prepared to

contemplate any other arrangement than complete

independence or continuing dependency.

4. On the first point, there is general agreement that the

experience of recent years shows it to be necessary for Governors

to retain certain fundamental responsibilities if the British

Government are to fulfil their international obligations in

respect of Dependent Territories. The attached draft defines

what the minimum reserved powers should be, as recommended by

the Governors themselves and by the departments in London

responsible for the administration of the Dependent Territories.

In fact in two territories, Bermuda and Belize, certain aspects

of these recommended reserved powers have already been delegated

to local governemnts. It is not suggested that in these cases

the delegated powers should now be retrieved: but the unanimous

recommendation of those we have consulted is that there should

be no further delegation of responsibility in these areas.

5. On the second point, the question that has arisen in the

past is whether we should attempt to develop territories to a

standard above that which they can

which they can ever hope to sustain from

This question arose from the belief that,

their own resources.

in order to aspire to independence, territories should aim to

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