TNAG-1125-FCO40-1400-British-Nationality-Act-1981-and-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 23

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#22/12

40

RESTRICTED

GPS 356

RESTRICTED

FM ST HELENA 211030Z DECEMBER 1982

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 583 OF 21 DECEMBER

YOURTEL 409 OF 16 DECEMBER

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT (FALKLAND) AMENDMENT BILL

1. BECAUSE OF COINCIDENCE OF ONSET OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS ARRIVAL OF SERIES OF SUPPLY SHIPS AND MY OWN DEPARTURE FOR ASCENSION ON 28 DECEMBER FOR OFFICIAL VISIT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY MEETING OF COUNCILLORS COULD BE HELD UNTIL MID JANUARY. ACCORDINGLY I HAVE SENT WRITTEN EXPLANATION BASED LARGELY UPON GUIDANCE TELEGRAM 231 OF 9 DECEMBER WHICH HAS JUST ARRIVED.

2. SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN MARCH 1981 I CANNOT RECALL ANY OCCASION WHEN COUNCILLORS HAVE RAISED TOPIC OF BNA. PETITION OF 29 NOVEMBER WAS SPONTANEOUS INITIATIVE IN RESPONSE

TO BBC NEWS ITEM ABOUT BARONESS VICKERS BILL BY ALERT BRITISH- BORN COUNCILLOR THOUGH WITH FULL SUPPORT OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

3. I AM UNCERTAIN WITH WHAT VIGOUR COUNCILLORS WILL REACT TO YOUR TUR BUT I WILL REPORT 1.D.C.

4. BEFORE MY ARRIVAL BISHOP CANNAN HAD ACTIVELY RAISED MATTER OF SAINTS STATUS BUT GENERALLY THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OVER- INTEREST UNTIL NOW.

5. SHOULD COUNCILLORS' REQUEST FOR MINISTERIAL VISIT PROVE SUCCESSFUL (YOURTEL 405 OF 13 DECEMBER REFERS) BNA WILL NATURALLY BE MAJOR TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION.

MASSINGHAM

LIMITED

NTD

WIAD HK GD

M&VD

COPIES

TO:

MR. C.L. SCOBLE

OH

B3 DIV HOME OFFICE

HKG 340/

세

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

RESTRICTED