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Political Disintegration: The Lessons of Anguilla

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2014

George C. Abbott
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Extract

ON THE MORNING OF 19 MARCH 1969, A CONTINGENT OF BRITISH paratroopers and police landed on the tiny Caribbean island of Anguilla and installed Mr Anthony Lee as Her Majesty's Commissioner. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, the reasons for taking this course of action were: there was a small group of disreputable characters from outside the state who not only possessed arms but were influencing those who purported to be the island's government. Further, this armed minority was frustrating the wishes of the great majority of Anguillans, and if, as a result of the absence of any lawful government or good order on the island, there was any damage done to the person or property of any foreign national, then Britain would be held responsible in virtue of her responsibility for the island's defence and external relations. It was therefore necessary to ensure that Britain would be in a position to discharge her responsibility fully.

Type
Articles
Information
Government and Opposition , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , 01 January 1971 , pp. 58 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Government and Opposition Ltd 1971

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References

1 This form of self-government can best be described as independence minus, or independence on terms, that is the associated state enjoys full internal self-government, but is allowed to retain a form of association with Britain, who is responsible for matters of defence and external affairs.