TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 158

CONFIDENTIAL

3 -

Alternatives to Independence

7. Her Majesty's Government's preference will remain a straight choice between continued dependence or full independence. We will nevertheless be prepared to consider on their merits any proposals for alternative arrangements that may be thought appropriate for particular territories. These could include association or inte- gration with another country where this is locally acceptable, but will certainly not again include the relationship provided for under the 1967 West Indies Act which led to the creation of the West Indies

Associated States. British experience since 1967 has clearly demon- strated the drawbacks of an arrangement which left the Government answerable for the consequences of policies over which they had no

control.

CONFIDENTIAL