TNAG-0835-FCO40-1043-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Office-seminar-on-the-future-of-Bri-1979 — Page 72

The CARIBBEAN

HKG.02544

no vny 11y20

DJ/AK/GC

& West Indies CHRONICLE

Published by the West India Committee

48 Albemarle Street London W1X 4AR Telephone 029 6355

Telex: 22911 Comcables and attention Carib London

8 October, 1979

CONFIDENTIAL

Now see (152

Moss Fayrell Please keep or file for

Mr. R. J. Stratton,

the time beis.

143

1.) 1).. Qughtsill, HKGJ 2.) (Dr. Stratton (Or. 15/10)

122210. I agree. M: 19/10

istration

In due corse we shall be sending margin Recd.

I Jessop a cops of the semina summary:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we can

King Charles Street, London.

SWI

Dear Mr. Stratton,

refer to this letter

i

20

9

in or carering note, suggest that there is no need

11/10.

to send a separate acknowledgement. 9 do not think the proposals have been

well thought through.

ves

I am sorry that I had to leave the IDS seminar early, as I particularly wanted to make a contribution to the section dealing with the manner in which the remaining dependencies should be moved to independence, as I found the seminar far too high on 'philosophy' and too low on practicality.

While I can see no problem with Montserrat or the Turks and Caicos (who may in the short term wish to establish some relationship with Canada), I do forsee considerable political reaction from Cayman, the BVI and Anguilla if the matter is approached too blatantly.

W. Chantill

To take the last first, it is clear that if St. Kitts/Nevis is to be moved towards independence, all parties need to maintain the myth of Anguilla reverting to dependency status in perpetuity. Therefore, any premature revelation of British policy towards the dependencies which I assume from the seminar is one of total decolonisation as quickly as possible - would certainly sabotage what already has the makings of a very complex constitutional conference.

Secondly, in the case of Cayman, there is absolutely no desire for independence apart from among a very few young radicals. Moreover, there are no indications from youth that they require any major change in relationship with the UK or in the internal political structure. There is also the additional problem of its finance and tourist success being predicated upon the confidence stemming from its dependency status.

As far as the BVI is concerned, and contrary to popular prognostications, I believe that while there is no desire amongst present political figures for independence there is an increasing

12/10

Executive Editor: Lt Col M R Robinson Chief Executive West India Committee. Managing Editor: David A Jessop