instability, the leader of Bermuda's pro-Independence forces said yesterday.

Mr. Walton Brown, chairman of the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda, challenged Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan "to disclose Government's rationale for raising Independence''.

The public is confused about the Premier's motive, as "it is both insufficient and irresponsible merely to say the world is changing,'' Mr.

Brown said at a news conference at the Leopard's Club.

Mr. Brown, joined by Mr. Dale Butler, released the position paper their committee has presented to the Cabinet committee which is preparing a discussion paper on Independence.

"Government's present position is illogical,'' Mr. Brown said in the six-page submission. "On the one hand, Government has no official position on Indpendence, while on the other hand, it is telling Bermudians to make a decision.

"Clearly, Government does have concerns about our present Constitutional position -- which is why the question of Independence is raised -- but they have not disclosed the reasons to Bermudians. This is a disservice.'' Until Government's reasons are disclosed, "suspicions of personal motivation and hidden agendas will continue to plague this important debate''.

Government's approach also "sends the wrong message to the international business community,'' which requires political and economic stability, Mr.

Brown said. Under the present approach, "we believe there is a real potential for political instability''.

Mr. Brown said the mandate of Government's Independence committee is too limited. Options which should be considered but are outside the committee's stated mandate include Bermuda as a sovereign country outside the Commonwealth, Bermuda as an Independent country in the Commonwealth without the Queen as head of state, and Bermuda as part of Britain in the European Union.

As well as stating its position on Independence through a White Paper, Government should "work with other political forces and parties and try to identify a common approach to try to take away some of the emotional rancor'', Mr. Brown said.

Mr. Brown said that while a trip to London later this month can be justified to gain information, Government should not be sending all five members of the Cabinet committee on Independence, as planned.

The Committee's position paper will be published in full in Monday's Royal Gazette .