§ Mr. T. Williams(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the report of the Commission which recently inquired into the possibility of settling refugees in British Guiana?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)Yes, Sir. As the statement is rather long, and I am anxious not to encroach upon the time allotted for the Military Training Bill, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I understand that copies of the statement will be in the Vote Office immediately.
§ Statement of His Majesty's Government's views regarding the British Guiana Refugee Commission's Report.
§ 1. His Majesty's Government wish to express their high appreciation of the way in which in a comparatively short time the Commission carried out their in vestigations, and to acknowledge the value of their Report. They welcome the recommendation for experimental settlement in British Guiana and are prepared to offer the fullest facilities for any settlement upon which the refugee organisations may decide.
§ 2. I have already declared on behalf of the Government that if, as the result of the Commission's inquiry, lands were found suitable for settlement, these would be leased on generous terms. His 863 Majesty's Government assume that this experimental settlement will be financed from private sources, and that it will be carried out under the direction of experts appointed by the refugee organisation which would be primarily responsible for it. The Government of British Guiana are, however, prepared to co-operate fully and to appoint such administrative officers as may be necessary. In addition His Majesty's Government will make such arrangements as may be necessary in personnel and organisation for co-operation on their part with the refugee authorities. They are already in close touch with the Inter-governmental Committee for Refugees and with the responsible refugee committees in this country.
§ 3. His Majesty's Government hope that arrangements can be made to begin settlement in the autumn of this year.
§ 4. In the view of His Majesty's Government, any prospect of large scale settlement, which they hope may prove possible, must depend largely on the possibilty of industrial development. They would urge, therefore, that further inquiries should be initiated at once with a view to determining the possibility of creating industrial employment for refugees either within the areas originally offered or in other suitable areas in the interior of the Colony, and they would give every facility for such a survey.
§ 5. If the proposed experiment and these investigations prove successful then subject to the preservation of, or reasonable compensation for, existing rights, and, in particular to the preservation of the rights and interests of aboriginal Indians, all the lands which might be required in the areas originally offered for examination would be leased on generous terms. In addition the Government would be prepared to allocate similarly such lands outside this area as might be agreed upon as offering promising conditions for industrial or agricultural development.
§ 6. His Majesty's Government recognise that the success of any scheme of large scale settlement requires the provision of arterial communications. If the prospects of development are good and the capital forthcoming is adequate for the purpose of large scale settlement and bears a reasonable proportion to the cost of providing suitable communication 864 between the interior and the coast, they would be prepared to provide such communication to meet the needs of the community.
§ 7. In brief, His Majesty's Government would be prepared to facilitate the settlement of refugees over the whole of the interior of British Guiana in so far as it may prove practicable; the coastal belt being excluded because that area is already occupied and must be reserved or the needs of existing inhabitants. His Majesty's Government are confident that such a development would be of great advantage to the people of British Guiana.
§ 8. His Majesty's Government appreciate that large scale settlement, if successful, would result in the establishment of a new community of considerable size. In such an event its status and position would clearly become such as to warrant the grant of a large measure of autonomy in local government and the necessary provision for its adequate representation in the Government of the Colony as a whole. Subject to the general control of His Majesty's Government and of the Colonial Government, His Majesty'c Government would be ready at all times to give sympathetic consideration to any proposals of this character, but the general colonial services such as Customs and Revenue Services, Currency, Post and Telegraph, Security Services and Law and Order would necessarily remain under the control of the Colonial Government.
§ 9. His Majesty's Government hope that, with the good will and co-operation of all concerned, a large scale settlement may prove possible which will contribute substantially to the solution of the distressing refugee problem.