One of the cables in the latest batch released by Wikileaks raises concerns over a possible secessionist movement in Abaco.

US government officials noted reports about two US citizens operating in the UK claiming to represent "The Council for a Free Abaco"

The Cable reads as follows:

1973 APRIL 27

ABACO SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT

1. ANTI- BAHAMIAN INDEPENDENCE ACTIVITIES BY UNITED

STATES CITIZENS. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY’ S EMBASSY HAVE

BEEN ASKED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

BAHAMAS: - IT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BAHAMAS

GOVERNMENT THAT REPORTS HAVE APPEARED IN NEWSPAPERS WITH

NATIONAL CIRCULATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, NAMELY THE

DAILY MIRROR AND THE GUARDIAN OF THE 23 AND 24 APRIL RE-

SPECTIVELY , OF ANTI- BAHAMIAN INDEPENDENCE ACTIVITIES OF

PERSONS CLAIMING TO BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

THESE NEWSREPORTS APPEAR UNDER THE HEADLINES “ MUTINY IN

PARADISEIN THE DAILY MIRROR, AND “ ARMS DEALER HERE TO

HELP COLONY” IN THE GUARDIAN AND IDENTIFY TWO PERSONS AS

UNITED STATES CITIZENS, AN ATTORNEY 44 YEARS OLD, EDWIN

MARGER, CLAIMING TO REPRESENT “ THE COUNCIL FOR A FREE

ABACO” AND 55 YEAR OLD MITCHELL BELL, AN ARMS DEALER.

THE BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT HAS FURTHER UNCONFIRMED INFORMATION

TO THE EFFECT THAT EDWIN MARGER IS A FLORIDA ATTORNEY

AND MITCHELL BELL THE PRESIDENT OF DEFENCE SYSTOMMON-

WEALTH CARIBBEAN, ALTHOUGH WE CERTAINLY INTEND TO CONTINUE

TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE

CARIBBEAN. AFTER EXPIRATION OF 30 DAY PERIOD WE CONSIDER

IT ESSENTIAL TO HAVE REPORT ON DAMAGE AND TO PROCEED WITH

WITHDRAWAL IF NO SOLUTION FOUND.

1. MISSION MAY NOTE INFORMALLY THAT WE REMAIN PERPLEXED

BY THE UK POSITION SINCE AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR

THE INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED WOULD SEEM FEASIBLE. US

HAS PERSISTENTLY SAID IT WOULD NOT PRESS ON BANANAS AND

CANNED GRAPEFRUIT, WHICH SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR UK TO

COMPROMISE ON ITEMS OF INTEREST TO US. MOREOVER, WE ARE

PUZZLED BY CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE

DAMAGE FINDING OF PANEL, SINCE IF WE ULTIMATELY DO TAKE

WITHDRAWALS, WE WOULD DO SO ON EXPORTS OF UK TO US, WITH-

OUT DAMAGING CARIBBEAN TRADE INTERESTS.

1. WASHINGTON AGENCIES ARE PREPARING COMMENTS ON PANEL

PROPOSALS ( REF C) FOR LATER USE. IN INTERIM, AS INDICATED

IN REF A, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FURTHER DETAILS ON

TARIFF QUOTA PROPOSAL. WE ALSO WOULD APPRECIATE PANEL

EXPLANATION OF HOW QUOTE PRISE- EN- CHARGE UNQUOTE SYSTEM

WOULD OPERATE. IF PANEL UNABLE TO OBTAIN UK COMMITMENT

TO DISCUSS PROPOSALS WITH A VIEW TOWARD SOLUTION, WE

WOULD PREFER PANEL MAKE LEGAL DETERMINATION. WASHINGTON

AGENCIES ARE PREPARED ( IN RESPONSE PARA 6 OF REF B) TO

ELABORATE ON US LEGAL VIEWS.