SELF-GOVERNMENT IN THE FALKLANDS
Sta,—Your correspondent, the Reverend W. T. F. Castle, in the Spectator of April 15th, need have no fears that the population of the Falkland Islands might vote in favour of absorption into the Argentine Republic. We are all Anglo-Saxons and have no wish to leave the Empire. But just in case we might have any illusions our Governor has informed us, (1) that democratic self-government is not practical in a small com- munity, and, (2) that in our Legislative Council the Opposition can never be allowed to take the place of the Government.
We are quite willing to leave foreign affairs to Whitehall, but we do ask for a say in our own domestic policy and the right to spend our own money, instead of having this done for us by a junta of officials imposed from outside, with experience only of coloured peoples, and who steadily multiply their own species at our expense. Mr. Castle is correct in saying that the Colonial Office is not the right department to manage the affairs of a community like this. I suggest that we have more in common with the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.—Yours faithfully,
The Deanery, Stanley, Falkland Islands. R. G. R. CALVERT.
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