"This episode is well-known and well-remembered in Gibraltar," Tommy Norton, researcher and journalist, told Sputnik.
Today's front page. pic.twitter.com/l4pvb5YxS9
— Gibraltar Chronicle (@GibChronicle) May 9, 2016
Following the referendum in 1967, in which the Spanish Government's proposed transfer of sovereignty was rejected by 99.6 percent of Gibraltarian voters, it emerged that a group of private individuals and businessmen, who had connections with Spain, decided to secretly approach the Spanish Foreign Ministry themselves a year later, with proposals of their own.
The Doves
The group, known as the Doves, then went public with their approach which caused civil unrest in Gibraltar. Among the proposals offered by the group was to raise the Spanish and Gibraltar flags alongside the Union flag.
Top Secret papers reveal details of Doves incident https://t.co/VnTkXj9PlD
— Gibraltar Chronicle (@GibChronicle) May 9, 2016
New documents partially released to the public, following a campaign by the Gibraltar Chronicle, reveal that the Commonwealth Office in London was aware of the approach made by Doves before they published a newspaper letter admitting it, and which ultimately led to violence on the streets of the Rock.
"We learned that they discovered this approach before the group went public with it, via information from [the Gibraltan] Special Branch police report, forwarded onto London," Norton told Sputnik.
"What is interesting is the reaction within Whitehall to the approach to Spain.
"We knew that approach had been made, and we knew it was unpopular, what we didn't know before, is how the British authorities reacted to it."
'Ambivalent'
"We appealed that decision and in April this year, the FCO reviewed the files again and said some of it could be released," Norton explains.
"But a lot has been blacked out, redacted and retained for the following reasons: international relations, protecting police methods and protecting personal information under Section 40."
The newly-released documents reveal that after receiving top secret Special Branch reports between the Doves and the Spanish Foreign Ministry in 1968, John Bennet, head of the Gibraltar and South Atlantic Department wrote: "My own view is that nothing is lost, and much may be gained by smiling on the process."
"What we can see during this controversial episode in Gibraltar was that Whitehall was ambivalent towards the backdoor approach by the Doves and that positive things were said of a 'process' which contributed to Gibraltar's worst ever periods of civil disorder," Norton said.
'Worry'
Looking ahead and towards the UK referendum on British membership of the EU, Norton says there is a worry among Gibraltarians.
"The worry in Gibraltar is that without Britain being a member of the EU, Spain might feel free to act as it wishes without constraint from the UK," Norton told Sputnik.
"The European aspect definitely complicates things and colors the whole history, after this whole episode [at the end of the 60s] the border with Spain was closed for 16 years. That border only reopened because Spain wanted to become part of the EU community and they had to lift this restriction to become part of Europe."
British MPs have been warned not to be ambivalent towards the Rock and must take Gibraltar into consideration in the event of a Brexit from the European Union.
