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1/15/1969 - Anguilla. Independence 1967-69; And some important reactions by Frank J. McDonald

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS FJM Anguilla W I ACUILLA Independence January And important reactions Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York lOO17 New York Dear Dick On December Anguillan Government letter Lord Chalfont Minister State Commonwealth Affairs In letter signed RonaldWebster Gov ernment Anguilla Anguilla independence position Her Majesty Government carefully outlined The letter position paper statement future intentions debated written rewritten unanim ously accepted entire Island Council It lucid expression compromise between those Council pressing clean break HMG St Kitts those wanted retain British cautioning against played declaration indepen dence other The substance letter contained following excerpts taken Just Council Anguilla extended invitation Her Maj Government designate Senior Bri Official remain Anguilla Interim Period No agreement extend Interim Period reached With ending agreed Interim Period Anguilla acquires indepen dence freedom action which prior letter December 1967o On July Mr Peter Adams Government Anguilla cabled Mrs Judith Hart Minister Commonwealth Relations follows Overwhelming referendum confirms absolute final independence Anguilla St Kittso This leaves formal legal Crown We explore stats Assoc iated State other arrangement freedom local government within Commonwealth This letter affirms remains sition legal status Anguilla After discussion unlikely further discussion alone cause either H N G Anguilla accept other The question proceed under these circumstances toward ultimate resolution ofthis situation following statement position request invitation The Government Anguilla continue frain hostile action against St Kitts provided there attempt St Kitts Nevis directly indirectly force against thins island people On April called attention Commonwealth Office certain information relating itary preparations Government St Kitts requested assurance H M G Britain permit force against Anguillao ofrom quarter We renew request We againinvite H M G designate Senior British Official Anguilla indeterminate period WOuld continue access Government papers documents available represent interests Her Majesty Government Will invited attend Council meetings advice which Council accept Anguilla continue recognise Senior British Official having administrative authority internal affairs island We welcome continued exercise H M G general responsibility external affairs defence Angilla including passport matters On matter however clarification recognition Anguilla status situation different oAnguilla reserve itself freedom plore international status directly others themselveso encumbered prior mistaken British Parliamentoooo FJM It difficult project might happened Webster Council waited renewed Interim Agreement another months which Tony Lee H M G asked saying within matters might straightened Anguilla satisfaction Yet under circumstances Webster pressing immediate affirmation independence stronger statement Anguilla letter reasonable document Once however tendinous diplomatic which Anguilla Great Britain together placed under severe strain The various reactions Govern St Kitts Nevis other Caribbean states H M G within There little Anguilla could cheer about From Left Ronald Webster Chief Executive John Webster Director Civil Service Atlin Harr Councilman Editor THE BEACON Emile Gumbs Councilman Walter Hodge Treasurer Right Tony Lee Senior British Offical departing Anguilla The reactions several leaders other Caribbean States London earlier Attending meeting Heads State Commonwealth countries Ministers Caribbean responded asked about Anguilla situation The Prime Minister Jamaica Mr Hugh Shearer vague hedged comment would other Ministers reality response H M G Mro Forbes Burnham Prime Minister troubled Guyana hoped peaceful settlement Anguilla might returned St Kitts Nevis Anguillans given autonomy St Kitts Government Prime Minister Erroll Barrow Barbados articulate responsive question Anguilla present circumstances As Country which recently become independent attitude consistent United Naions Declaration Human ights believe right people determin ationo The Anguilla question slightly confused thought ession people Unitary State people Colonial Empire I cannot agree Council Anguilla Unilateral Declaration Independence Commonwealth Anguilla should integral State St Kitts Nevis Anguilla constitutionally change positions without agreement British Government everybody cerned Obviously various other Caribbean States waiting British response By Friday morning January Premier St Kitts Nevis Mr Robert Bradshaw reaction Webster letter St KittS radio Bradshaw began saying events Anguilla taken silly result Webster letter Her Majesty Government event Bradshaw neted looks treason Reading first paragraphs Webster document Bradshaw began outline consequences foresaw action By declaring Interim Period Webster Tony Lee position Anguilla legally impossible Webster failed Anguilla according State With these obvious statements Bradshaw began events several curious thing which taken place Anguilla during He noted burning plane doctor shooting death young threatening manager Bank America gunpointoo which forced leave Anguilla At moment however Bank manager still living island I asked thought Premier Bradshaw remarks young American San Francisco quipped about thing threat fleas C ontinuing Bradshaw described Webster letter having Anguilla ddeles perilous grave uncertainty leaving public property grabber unable direct course He noted drift things usually shoals there battered pieces cruel waves which stares Anguillans Be announced Webster actions there would suspension trade postal services between St Kitts Anguilla All travel between island would stopped This anyway months Finishing Bradshaw remarked Webster cohorts forced these measures other rebels miles Georgetown hills Guyana forced Prime Minister Forbes Burnham severe measures against restore order country And Bradshaw position clear though doing facts quite accurate spoke clearly Webster treason would solid support sympathy Her Majesty Government other Caribbean States eanwhile January important reply H M G London informed Lee choice withdraw Anguilla Special British Official designated H M G representative during Interim Agreement would depart later month Lee remain Caribbean nearby Antigua months effort other solution St Kitts Anguilla conflict doubt Bradshaw statement earlier Britain intention leaving Lee Puerto Rico Anguilla St Thoma St Martin St Croix Barbuda St Eustatius Antigua St Kilts Nevia Montserrat Guadeloupe Caribb Sea N Dominica St Lucia Barbados Vincent Palm Island Tobago Mp ceurtesF Lew Islands Ar Tax island H M G decided constitutional The difficulties Britain facing Rhodesia Nigeria Keyna obviously little Anguilla What implications Webster letter conse quent British reply First Lee withdrawn clear Anguillans cannot count support other Caribbean states Jamaica Barbados where there sympathy their cause Further Lee S departure deprive Anguilla direct Great Brita V S O other sources finan support leave island damaging Bradshaw force H M G circulation Anguilla Independence Stamps which Island Government derives budgeted income supress British Passports cltizens carry There internal repercussions Anguilla Many Anguillans British Les departure irresponsibility Webster They blame forcing British A general breakdown order result In West End ticularly Webster End Island there rumblings about leadership which could cause serious political split island Last night example Government Custom House Blowing Point burned Arson suspected And though bradshaw Anguillan someone supporting return St Kitts first resistance Webster Island If Webster forced appoint successor elections Anguillans would searching accepting leader would substantial Anguillans anarchic people begin unity fragile thing So square British civil servant minus square going double times difficult Britain return Anguilla certain encounter onslaught speculators quick money solutions power grabbers attempted overs within without island Once again Anguillan Government private assistance United States Canada For those through before challenge prospects staggering Whether Anguillans testing debatable though would impossible They proven others wrong before really their faced difficulties In returned Britain court lines drawn Anguillans Yours F McDonald Received New York January