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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 8, 1982
PAGE 13
Why? some would ask. Why give up a life of tranquility--and no income tax.
(A 30 percent duty on imports leads to a rather high cost of living, but
still••.• )
It just seems that to be independent is the thing to do. There is mounting
pressure to head in this direction. Even the ruling United Bermuda Party,
no enthusiastic supporter of the idea, now says it will not stand in the
way. Neither, of course, will Britain which always allows its colonies to
choose their own political course.
What position would the government of an independent Bermuda take regarding
its contribution toward Western defense?
For a starter, mark this well. The Soviets would love to change the status
quo.
It is unlikely that an independent Bermuda, because of its well
distributed prosperity, could succumb to extreme leftism a la Cuba. But
the Soviets could pressure the tiny country to sever the defense links with
the U.S. in order to give them a freer hand in the Atlantic. There would be
calls for Bermuda to be "neutral" or in the current parlance, to go
"nuclearfree."
America would be exposed to even greater peril.
As Bermuda faces
seagate's motto:
its uncertain future, we are reminded of
Qua fata ferunt--whither the fates lead us.
the tiny
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau