§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose a conference in London of representatives of all those dependent territories of the United Kingdom likely to remain permanently under its sovereignty with a view to devising a fresh legal relationship signifying free association rather than colonial status.
§ Mr. WhitneyNo. The existing relationship between the United Kingdom and the dependent territories reflects the fact that the circumstances and problems of each of the dependent territories are quite different. In most cases, the relationship is one of free association. It would be wrong however to draw arbitrary parallels or distinctions between the different territories or to underestimate the importance of their individual circumstances. We have special responsibilities to each dependent territory and will fulfil their commitments in good faith.