TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 157

CONFIDENTIAL

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3. In certain territories, limited powers in some of these areas have already been delegated to local governments or given to local Public Service Commissions. It is not the intention to reverse

those decisions, but no further delegations will be agreed in respect of these particular responsibilities. We will, however, be prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals that Governors may care to put forward for increasing the powers of local governments in other

areas.

4. Where a territory's government have announced their intention to move to independence, a programme will be agreed for the various

stages of constitutional change. There can be no standard timetable

for this: the pace will largely be dictated by local circumstances. In all cases, the Governor will retain until the last moment formal

responsibility for at least the first three of the matters listed in paragraph 2 above, though it will undoubtedly be appropriate for him to consult the local Premier increasingly about the way he exercises these responsibilities as independence approaches.

5. Any constitutional changes introduced as a result of a decision to move towards independence will, of course, need to be reviewed if that decision is subsequently reversed (for example as a result of a change of government in the territory concerned). This could entail

BY the resumption of Governors of powers that had already been delegated in anticipation of independence.

The Role of British Aid

6. The reasonable needs of the Dependent Territories will continue to be a first call on our aid programme. In deciding how aid resources should be used in the Dependent Territories, our principal objective will be to create a political and economic climate that will make independence a realistic and attractive alternative to continuing colonial status. We recognise, however, that in some territories which lack natural resources the possibility of genuine economic independence is remote. In the past, a generous allocation of development aid (and in certain cases also budgetary aid) has often formed a vital ingredient in achieving a final independence agreement. The possibility of similar action will be borne in mind in future cases, subject to the overall constraints placed on the aid programme by the Government's general economic policies.

CONFIDENTIAL

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