CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 103

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In discussion there was general agreement with these proposals.

was suggested that our position might be strengthened, and difficulties

eased for tho Falkland islanders, if at some stage we offered to bring back

to the United Kingdom and to compensate for their disturbance those who

wished to come here. It was pointed out, however, that this proposal might

not only involve difficultics in relation to the Falkland Islands, but might

also have repercussions in respect of other British communities overseas.

Nevertheless, it should be further considered.

In further discussion referenco was made to the position of South

Georgie and our Antarctic possessions. Our claims in respect of the latter,

together with the competing claims of other nations in the Antarctic as a

whole, were now satisfactorily covered by international treaty which provided

for these claims to be frozen for its duration and it would be important

that the continuation of that treaty should not be jeopardised by any action which we took in respect of the Falkland Islands. It was, however, the

general view that on balance there was reason to hope that a settlement in

respect of the Falkland Islands would contribute to the satisfactory continuation of the treaty.

The Committee

(1) Approved the proposals in OPD (67) 20 on the basis on which we should seek a settlement of the Anglo-Argentine dispute in respect of the Falkland Islands.

(2) Invited the Commonwealth Secretary, in consultation with the

Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and in the light of the discussion, to consider the possibility of the Government offering to provide compensation for those Falkland islanders who wish to come to the United Kingdom.

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

15th March 1967

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