PRIVATE MEMBER'S MOTION : DEPENDENT TERRITORIES : 15 APRIL 1983
DRAFT SPEECH
I am grateful to my right honourable Friend for introducing
his Motion on the Dependent Territories. We are fully committed to the policy followed by successive Governments since 1945 of
giving every help and encouragement to those dependent
territories which, where independence is feasible, wish to
become independent, whilst not forcing independence on those
which do not wish it. This is fully in accordance with our obligations under the UN Charter. Wherever independence is feasible, this Government will continue to 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. It is, of course, the government of the day and Parliament which must
remain responsible for taking the primary decisions on our dependent territories. There is never any question, for instance, of our allowing the United Nations to impose a particular international status, such as independence, on a people who do not wish it. We have on occasion needed to
dissociate ourselves from the views expressed by the UN
Decolonisation Committee or the General Assembly. But we do cooperate with the United Nations in their discussions of our dependent territories, and we consider that our efforts in this respect have led to a wider understanding of the problems that
these small territories face. We have no reason to be defensive
about the way successive governments have carried out these responsibilities. Indeed, about one third of the Member States of the UN have reached independence as a result of the way in
which we have discharged our obligations. We shall continue,
where possible, in the same spirit with our remaining territories, assisting them in a manner appropriate to their individual circumstances.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.