TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 59

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference...

HKG.023

Mr Quantrill, Hong Kong and General Department

DECOLONISATION DESPATCH

1.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

- 3 AUG 1979

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

my I ny

No

✓

пу

пу

29

8

MsQuanti

I have now seen a copy of your minute of 5 July and the draft despatch enclosed with it. I assume that this despatch will be Personal for Governors and suggest that it be so classified.

2.

This Department's concern is limited to the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands are one of those territories where independence cannot be considered a rational option (economically non-viable, size of population, Argentine sovereignty claims etc). Nor do the Islanders want independence. The section of the despatch therefore of particular relevance to the Governor of the Falkland Islands is paragraph 6 on alternative arrangements.

3. Paragraph 6 as it now stands explicitly rules out associated statehood but makes mention of integration/ association with the UK or with any other country has possibilities still. Is this really so? If not, is it not misleading for Governors to have these possibilities mentioned so explicitly (integration/association with Argentina are vehemently opposed by Falkland Islanders). Might I suggest therefore that it would be less misleading if the despatch were to leave the alternative arrangements undefined i.e. I recommend that in the second sentence of your paragraph 6 you delete the words from "may include to ..... any other country, but".

1 August 1979

Cc: Mr Pettit, SPD

Mr Gordon, SED Mr Perceval, M&CD Mr Duff, WIAD

G A Duggan

South America Department

Notes

$3/8

CONFIDENTIAL

33