Island, the Financial Times of London says in its weekend edition.

And the most recent edition of London's Sunday Telegraph describes the Bermudian Independence debate as "one of the strangest liberation struggles the Empire has ever seen''.

The articles appeared with just over a week to go until Bermudians go to the polls to decide Independence next Tuesday.

The Financial Times, which sent reporter Ralph Atkins to Bermuda to interview Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and other Bermudians, described the drive for Independence as a "quixotic...one-man crusade'' by Sir John.

"No matter how many cliches he spouts about releasing the Island's potential and strengthening the Bermudian national identity, his campaign is creating a damaging tempest,'' the report said.

"The Island's businessmen are infuriated; his pro-business United Bermuda Party is split. And given the debate he has stirred, the issue is unlikely to be resolved by the referendum called for August 15. The goose that lays the golden egg is under threat.'' The writer describes finding weak support for Independence even when he visited "the back of town'' in north Hamilton.

The article touches on Bermuda's racial problems and conflicts between Court Street and Front Street.

Governor Lord Waddington, Independence opponents the Hon. Clarence Terceira and Mr. Eldon Trimingham, and Independence proponent Rev. Conway Simmons are among those interviewed.

The Sunday Telegraph article is written by Mr. Andrew Gilligan, who attended last week's news conference at which Sir John said he would resign in the event of a `no' vote.

"As in many another Independence tussle, the debate over the nationhood of Bermuda has pitted embattled rulers against the will of the people,'' the article says.

"But there is a difference. Here, it is the politicians who want to break free of the imperial yoke, while the public, according to all the polls, wants things to stay exactly as they are.'' Touching on the UBP's close brush with defeat in the October, 1993 general election, the article says Sir John "must have thought the nationalist card a good one to play''.

But in the run-up to August 15, "the Empire is striking back'', as reflected in public opinion polls.

The article quotes Mr. David L. White, Editor of The Royal Gazette , as saying: "Swan has gone badly off the rails with this Independence kick,'' suffering "the political equivalent of a nervous breakdown.'' It also quotes Lord Waddington as saying it is entirely up to Bermudians whether they want to remain a dependent territory.

"We jolly well didn't fight in the Falklands to see people who want to remain British abandoned,'' the Governor said.