TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 55

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

independence were to be seriously delayed or indeed if the decision itself were to be reversed. This might entail the resumption by

the Governor of some or all of the powers currently delegated."

g) I am guilty here of a change of mind following a lot of further discussion in the department and re-reading of Mr Posnett's key despatch of 27.2.74. It refers to the existing paragraph 3, which as drafted opens a chink in our armour in trying to retain responsibility and control until we can safely surrender them. We have agreed in the past to such delegations in Bermuda and Belize but I think we need not repeat the mistake. Governors should consult over the use of the powers affecting their special responsibilities but should not delegate them. A firm line on this is likely to act as a spur to some territories flirting with independence to make up their mind to go for it rather than to continue to feel boxed in by "Auntie Britain". Could we therefore rewrite paragraph 3 as follows:

in

"This does not rule out the need for formal consultation exercising these responsibilities but I am not in favour of their delegation to Ministers. The Limited delegations which have already been made will continue in being. There may of course be a case for constitutional advance not affecting the Governor's special responsibilities and I am prepared to consider proposals of this

whenever you judge the time is right."

sort

h)

AID

I am increasingly convinced that intelligent use of aid is one of the most effective tools we have at our disposal to encourage the reluctant starters to face up to independence. (The threat of the aid cuts brought home to us more sharply how we were likely to have less influence over, for example, the Cayman Islands than when we had a little money to spend on their development.) I should like to paragraph 5 Line 2 to say: "It will remain our firm policy.......

•

"

At the top of page 3 I should like to recast the sentence beginning "In deciding" so that it goes on "Our objective will be to promote the right political and economic climate to make independence a feasible and attractive alternative to continuing dependence". We go on

independence is remote.

to

say that for some, full economic

13.