TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 220

MEMORANDUM

CONFIDENTIAL

POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

General Policy

1.

The present British Government are fully committed to the policy followed by successive Governments since 1945 of giving every help and encouragement to those Dependent Territories which wish to become independent, while not forcing independence on those which do not want it. Wherever independence is feasible, we will

seek to create the conditions which will make it a realistic and

desirable objective. Where local governments have made it clear that they do not wish their territories to become independent, we are content to retain sovereignty for the time being. But we must

also retain the legal powers necessary to ensure that we are able

to fulfil the responsibilities that sovereignty entails. In those territories where international political considerations rule out the possibility of independence, or rule it out for the present, we will seek the most suitable arrangements for the territories'

administration. Each case will be considered on its merits,

bearing in mind the constraints imposed by external political circumstances and the wishes of the local population.

Powers to be retained by the British Government

2. Responsibility and power must go together. Political development must therefore stop some way short of full internal

self-government where territories choose to remain dependent. In such cases the British Government, through the Governor, retain overall responsibility for:-

(i) external affairs;

(ii) defence;

(iii) internal security, including administration of

the police;

(iv) the administration of the public service;

(v) the judiciary.

will

CONFIDENTIAL

/3.