TNAG-0931-FCO40-1149-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 27

T

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

f

(see paragraph 13 of the Memorandum) that in exercising the Crown's prerogative of mercy "governors act in their own deliberate judgment". It would also, in territories where public opinion is strongly in favour of capital punishment, place them in an impossibly individious position with their Ministers and legislatures, who would inevitably come to know that they had been subject to informal pressure from London. I still consider therefore that, if we are to

to "let sleeping dogs lie", we should do just this without any stage whispers to Governors about what would suit us best.

29 January 1980

Kiri Shatten

RJ Stratton

I favour "letting sleeping dogs lie" but we must watch carefully individual caves in colonies which retain Expital punishment. Our responsibility for internal security may force us to intowere. We don't want a repetition of the Bermuda affair.

1

{

30/1/80

delicar

As the

paper

shaws,

This is an excersing

and tricky question. The temptation not to wake the sleeping doys is then for very grear. But thes

thenfor com be woken or any time by a mosty mancher (ans in Bermuda 3 year ag) and that can pridna an explosis political problem hem on in the

رسمه

enmy)

CONFIDENTIAL