TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 201

DECOLONISATION

It

The British Government respects the wishes of the peoples of our remaining Dependent Territories to determine their own future in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. We are committed to the policy followed by successive Governments since 1945 of giving every help and encouragement to those Dependent Territories who wish to become independent while not forcing independence on those which do not want it. Where local governments have made it clear that they do not wish to become independent we are content to retain sovereignty for the time being. However, we do endeavour to find out through the normal democratic processes what the majority of the population believe to be most appropriate way for their Territory to develop. The pace of constitutional advance must be in line with what the peopl

want rather than with any framework imposed by Britain as the admini- stering power. Once the majority of the population of a Dependent

Territory indicates that they wish to move to independence we help them to achieve this in as rapid and orderly a manner as 'possible.