TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 66

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

DRAFT

To:-

CONFIDENTIAL

DESPATCH

Type 1 +

From

All Governors

POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

In Confidence

Sir

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

DSR 11

1. The Governors of the British Dependent Territories in the

Caribbean, at their conference in Bridgetown in January,

agreed that they would welcome a re-statement of the British

Government's policy towards the future of the remaining

Dependent Territories. The need for this arises not so much

because of any doubt about the basic policy which successive

British Governments have been consistently following since

1945, but rather because of

uncertainty that has grown up

in recent years about certain implications of this policy.

Specifically, there appear to be doubts over how fast and how

far constitutional development should be allowed to proceed,

particularly in ferritories which have shown no wish to become

independent; over the extent to which HMG's policies should

be directed towards the creation of the conditions that would

make independence possible even where it is not immediately

and over what alternatives, if any, may be

available for Territories that, while reluctant to remain

dependent, believe that for them full independence is not a

viable option.

contemplated;

to

2. The present British Government remain fully committed to

the policy of its predecessors of giving every help and

encouragement to Territories wishing to become independent,

while not forcing independence on those who do not want it.

CONFIDENTIAL

Dd 0532000 800M 5/78 HMSO Bracknell

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