TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 136

according to the particular circumstances of

each territory and its peoples and their

varying stages of advancement. 11

We have no reason

eason to be defensive about the way successive

governments have carried out

there

responsibilities

Indeed about a third

of the Member States of the UN have reached independence

as a result of the way we have discharged our Charter

We shall continue in the same spirit

obligations.

with our remaining dependent territories assisting them

ine

to develop their institutions

territory.

a

mame

appropriate to the circumstances of each

It is of course the Government of the day and

Parliament rather than the UN which are responsible

for taking decision on British dependent territories

and on occasion it has been necessary to dissociate

ourselves from views expressed by the United Nations.

We do not acceptegenple

We do not accept that independence regardless of size

and population and other treaty obligations is the only

form of constitutional advance open to dependent

territories.

:

t

We continue to cooperate with the UN in its consider-

UN

ation of our dependent territories. The decolonization

X

committee, known as the Committee of 24, discuss the derailed Lon each of on dependent territories)

reports we submit to the UN under Article 73(e)

Swe

of the Charter. Although we are no longer members

(many of) debates Many ots its

of the Committee of 24 we participate

and invite visiting missions to dependent territories

to gain first hand knowledge of conditions in the

/various