The Gibraltar Sovereignty Referendum of 1967

 BRITISH WE ARE, BRITISH WE STAY!

The Gibraltar Sovereignty Referendum of 1967 speaks volumes of the proud identity us Gibraltarians have of ourselves. The referendum essentially asked Gibraltarian citizens (voters) whether they wished to pass under Spanish sovereignty (marked 'A' in the voting ballot seen below), or whether they desired to remain under British sovereignty (marked 'B'). Of the 12,762 Gibraltarians who were able to vote, 12,237 'llanitos' (as us Gibraltarians call ourselves ~ pronounced yanitos) voted in favour of remaining under British sovereignty, whilst only 44 voted in favour of passing under Spanish sovereignty; with there being 55 spoiled ballot papers.

The Ballot Paper with the 2 options, written in English and Spanish

WHAT'S TO OFFER?

The 'Question of Gibraltar' under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2070 prompted the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain to begin talks on Gibraltar in 1966. Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Castiella, made a formal proposal to Britain comprising of three clauses which went as follows:

                

1. The cancellation of the Treaty of Utrecht and the subsequent return of Gibraltar to Spain.
2. The presence of the British in the Royal Navy base in Gibraltar, its use being subject to a specific Anglo-Spanish agreement.
3. A 'Personal Statute' for Gibraltarians, under United Nations Guarantee, protecting their cultural, social and economic interest in Gibraltar or anywhere in Spain, including their British nationality.

The people of Gibraltar were therefore met with this option entailing Spanish sovereignty, or the latter which would mean that Britain would consider the vote a voluntary relationship of the Gibraltarians with London, and would discuss with the local leaders any appropriate constitutional changes which they sought after. In relation to this, the Gibraltarians definitely made their thoughts on the referendum and the clear-cut choice known as Gibraltar turned red, white and blue.

The streets of Gibraltar surrounding the 1967 Referendum

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Sir Joshua Hassan, expressed how the referendum was "the first opportunity for Gibraltarians to express in a free and democratic way where their interests lie." This was in fact an indirect reference to the United Nations recommendations, that, while the 'decolonisation' of the 'Rock' (of Gibraltar) should be carried out, the solution of the problem relating to Gibraltar should indeed be in the interests of its inhabitants.

BRITISH, BRITISH AND BRITISH!

The absolute astounding victory for the people of Gibraltar was emphasised through the 99.64% of voters favouring and voting for British Sovereignty. It was almost a certain 'no-brainer' and was a vindication of Britain's arguments before the United Nations that Gibraltar was a colony that did not want to be decolonised. As there was no sign within Gibraltar of any popular or political movement pressing for an end to British rule, and as civil liberties in Spain under Franco were restricted, it was evident that the Spanish claim was to be met with a miniscule chance of success. Additionally, the behaviour of the Gibraltarians was adequate and responsible in their celebrations in red, white and blue as the Referendum Administrator praised the people of Gibraltar "for the responsible way in which they conducted themselves during a period when emotions inevitably ran high".

Poster demonstrating Gibraltar's desires to remain British

By Niall Serra