TNAG-1461-FCO40-1987-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-Hong-Kong--Gibraltar-and-1986 — Page 74

(ii)

CONFIDENTIAL

where the granting of independence is inhibited by

international claims, relations or treaties, to reach an

accommodation with the other powers concerned so that (i)

may be achieved;

(iii)

where the granting of independence would prejudice valuable

UK national, strategic, communications, scientific or

commercial interests, to seek to establish with the

territory, if necessary in co-operation with other

interested powers, a relationship designed to secure these

interests at the minimum long-term cost to the UK, even if

this involves the retention of dependent status".

34. If this policy were to be continued today for these twelve

territories it could be argued that Bermuda is the only territory

which could become independent without many wider foreign policy implications. Equally, however, the problems concerning narcotics,

security etc vis à vis the five Caribbean territories would be

fairly similar whether they remained dependencies or became

independent. Except that, as the 1973 Review noted

"there are recurrent risks that these small territories,

eg after

breakdowns of local law and order, may involve HMG in military

intervention, or even in conflicts with other powers both

liable to embarass us internationally and divert our adminis-

tration and financial resources from tasks more vital to the UK

itself".

If some or all of the five Caribbean territories became independent

the responsibility for their problems might, in theory be more easy

to share, but encouraging a move towards independence cannot be seen

as a cheap or easy option given the financial and political unprepar-

edness of most of the populated territories.

CONFIDENTIAL

21

-