TNAG-1461-FCO40-1987-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-Hong-Kong--Gibraltar-and-1986 — Page 104

22

CONFIDENTIAL

particularly to counter charges of inconsistency between one group of dependencies (the Caribbean) and another (the

Falklands).

Criticism and exploitation of the perceived change

in our policies can be expected to come from within the

territories themselves, from the US and possibly other allies,

from both wings of British politics (depending on their view of

the Falklands) and from the Argentinians. The basis of our public line must be to confirm that the wishes of the inhabitants

will be respected and to counter any spurious comparisons between

the different dependencies. There are indeed clear differences

between the Falklands on the one hand and the Caribbean on the

other: the former is situated close to a large hostile power, the

latter to a large friendly power; the former is economically

dependent on the UK, the latter on the US far more than the UK;

the former has never expressed any wish to be independent, while

in the latter some of the leaders have indicated an interest in

seeking independence. Despite the validity of such arguments HMG will however find itself having to mount a firm defence of its

policies against some entrenched criticism.

IX ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPENDENCIES IN THE UK

36 A factor that has tended to reduce the efficient

administration of the dependencies in recent years has been the increased involvement of non-FCO departments in the affairs of

the territories. Financial, shipping, telecommunications and

drug questions, as well as aid and security aspects have all led

non-FCO departments to deal more or less directly with dependent territory affairs. No regular committee machinery has existed to coordinate this involvement or to ensure that FCO expertise is constantly brought to bear. The need for this is arguably

greater now that so many and more varied governmental resources

are being devoted to the task. It will be particularly

important, as some of the dependencies are moved towards independence, that action in Whitehall is properly coordinated and it therefore makes sense for a coordinating committee, probably located in the Cabinet Office, to be set up.

CONFIDENTIAL