- Title: U.K: "ISLE OF DOGS" DECLARES INDEPENDENCE.
- Date: 9th March 1970
- Summary: 1. GV ISLE OF DOGS OVERLOOKING DOCKS 0.03 2. LV ZOOM OUT DOCKS 0.18 3. GV BRIDGE 0.24 4. SV BRIDGE BARRIERS LOWERED (2 SHOTS) 0.32 5. SV BRIDGE CONTROL POINT 0.37 6. LV SHIP PASSES THROUGH OPEN BRIDGE 0.42 7. LV ZOOM OUT POLICE CAR IN EMPTY STREET 0.48 8. LV BLOCK OF FLATS WITH WOMEN SIGNING PETITION 0.51 9. SC
- Embargoed: 24th March 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, U.K.
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA40JG38JSB2H3TDEXTJ9VPUG0O
- Story Text: A TINY CORNER OF LONDON'S DOCKLAND, KNOWN AS THE "ISLE OF DOGS", DECLARED ITSELF INDEPENDENT TODAY (MONDAY, MARCH 9TH) AFTER WAITING IN VAIN FOR ASSURANCES THAT ITS ELEVEN-THOUSAND POPULATION WOULD RECEIVE BETTER WELFARE, EDUCATIONAL AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES.
THE BREAKAWAY STATE IS NOT AN ISLAND AS SUCH, BUT A POPULAR PENINSULA ALL BUT CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF LONDON BY THE WEST INDIA DOCKS. LAST SUNDAY (MARCH 8TH) THE REBELS CUT THEIR LINKS WITH THE CITY BY BLOCKING TWO SWING BRIDGES.
PRESIDENT-ELECT IS MR. TED JOHNS, WHO, ALONG WITH TWO PRIME MINISTERS, HAS COMPLETELY SEVERED LONG-STANDING CONNECTIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING TOWER HAMLETS, A MUNICIPAL DISTRICT WHICH UP UNTIL TODAY GOVERNED THE ISLAND'S AFFAIRS.
DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM THE MAJORITY OF HOUSEWIVES ON THE ISLAND, WHO'VE TAKEN UP A PETITION PROTESTING THAT THEY WERE NOT EVEN CONSULTED, MR. JOHNS DISMISSED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HE SAID, "TO US ON THE ISLE OF DOGS, THIS IS NO JOKE. WE ARE DEADLY SERIOUS".
THE GOVERNMENT CALLS ITSELF THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COUNCIL. FROM THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, MR. HAROLD WILSON, THERE'S BEEN NO COMMENT SO FAR ON TODAY'S DECLARATION, OTHER THAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ISLAND'S DEMANDS.
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