On The British Gibraltar Referendum In 1967

Based on the background,process and results of the British Gibraltar referendum in 1967,this paper aims to analyze the factors affecting the result of the referendum,clarifies the role of the referendum in the process of solving the braltar issue in Britain and Spain,and then reveal the limitations and particularity of the referendum in solving the territorial dispute.The dispute over Gibraltar stems from the treaty of Utrecht,signed after the war of Spanish succession.Article X of the treaty provided that Spain would cede the ownership and use of Gibraltar to England.Since then,the two parties have been in conflict due to the differences in the interpretation of this clause.Spain’s desire to regain Gibraltar’s sovereignty grew after the second world war as its international status improved.After 1963,the conflict between Britain and Spain over the ownership of Gibraltar intensified.This was highlighted when Spain referred the question of Gibraltar to the United Nations.Under the trend of decolonization,the United Nations made resolutions in favor of Spain.In response to international pressure,Britain held a referendum on the sovereignty of Gibraltar on September 1,1967.Gibraltarians voted to remain in Britain.The 1967 referendum did not end the dispute over Gibraltar.On the other hand,after local residents became the third party to solve the issue of Gibraltar’s ownership,uncontrollable factors were added and the complexity of the issue was exacerbated.