§ 3.53 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, with permission, I should like to repeat a Statement about South Arabia which my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary is making in another place. I now quote the Foreign Secretary:
"I informed the House on the 14th November that Her Majesty's Government had decided that South Arabia should become independent and that the withdrawal of our forces should be completed by the 30th November. I am now glad to say that the withdrawal of British forces was successfully completed at noon to-day and that South Arabia will become independent at midnight local time—that is, 9 p.m. our time—tonight. An Order in Council providing for the 118 relinquishment of Her Majesty's sovereignty in South Arabia was made yesterday.
"As the House will be aware, negotiations began in Geneva on the 21st November between a British delegation led by my right honourable and noble friend Lord Shackleton and a delegation from the National Liberation Front led by Mr. Qahtan al Shaabi. I am glad to say that agreement on many of the points which have been discussed was reached this morning. A joint communiqué has been issued and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library. The talks were adjourned to allow the National Liberation Front delegates to return to Aden for Independence Day and will be resumed shortly.
"As the communiqué indicates, the discussions in Geneva have covered a wide range of subjects including the transfer of power and questions of civil and military aid. On the latter point, as the communiqué says, we have agreed to continue aid at the existing levels over the next six months while negotiations continue. As regards the islands, the wishes of the inhabitants have been ascertained and decisions as to their future have been taken by us. These decisions entail further discussion with the South Arabian authorities, and in that situation I hope the House will agree that the best course would be to defer an announcement on this subject for a few days.
"The representatives of the National Liberation Front naturally regard the formation of a Government as one of the first tasks to be undertaken on their return to Aden. I am not, however, at this stage, in a position to give the House any indication of the form these representatives think the new Government will take.
"I am sure that the House will join me; on the eve of the new State's independence, in wishing it every success; and will be glad to note that it has been agreed to establish diplomatic relations and exchange Ambassadors. The talks in Geneva have been conducted in a good atmosphere and I have every hope that we will have the best possible relationship with the independent State, which is to take the 119 name of the People's Republic of Southern Yemen.
"I am sure that the House will wish to pay tribute to the devotion and courage of all those officials and civilians who over many years and in the face of increasing difficulties have sought to prepare South Arabia for independence. The armed forces, under the distinguished leadership of Sir Michael Le Fanu, deserve special recognition for the skill and forbearance with which they have carried out their exceedingly difficult task.
"Finally, I am sure the House will acknowledge the special contribution of Sir Humphrey Trevelyan, who is returning to London this afternoon on relinquishing his post as High Commissioner. He willingly put his experience and special skills at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government at a critical time in the Middle East generally and South Arabia in particular. The safe and peaceful withdrawal of the last of our forces in recent weeks is due in large part to the confidence between Briton and Arab which has been built up so patiently out of suspicion and strife."
My Lords, that concludes the Foreign Secretary's Statement, but I feel sure that this House will wish me to add, on behalf of all of us, a strong tribute to an illustrious Member of this House, the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, who has played such a notable part in this settlement.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I think we should be grateful to the noble Earl the Leader of the House for repeating that Statement. All of us, wherever we sit, would echo the tributes which he has paid to civilians and Servicemen for the work they have done in South Arabia, and to Sir Humphrey Trevelyan, who I think took on a really dreadful and almost impossible task and discharged it in the way one would expect of so distinguished a public servant. I think, too, that we shall all agree that we are very relieved that the last British troops have been evacuated from Aden without any casualties; evacuated from a situation in which they were no longer performing any useful task.
I think, however, that there will be many of your Lordships who will be, 120 even at this stage, a little surprised that although the Statement records that
the National Liberation Front … regard the formation of a Government as one of the first tasks",the noble Earl is not in a position to give any indication of what form the representatives think that that new Government will take. I must say that I think it is a sad commentary that we are reduced—whether it was inevitable or not, I am not arguing now—to this sort of situation, when we have taken a pride over these past years in handing over our Colonies with law and order and a proper Constitution.The noble Earl has told us that some things have been agreed and some things have not been agreed. He has told us, I think, that the question of finance has not been agreed and that temporarily, for the next six months, the existing arrangements will go on. I wonder whether the noble Earl could give us any indication of when we shall have more news of that, because a good many noble Lords on this side view some of the reports that have been made with a good deal of apprehension. I wonder, too, whether the noble Earl could give us any indication about what has been agreed, as opposed to what has not been agreed; because I think your Lordships would be interested to know how far agreement has been reached with the National Liberation Front.
§ 4 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I should like to join the noble Earl the Leader of the House and the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, in the expression of gratitude to all those—Sir Humphrey Trevelyan and all the other British people in Aden—who have carried out their duties so devotedly in a most difficult time. In particular, I should like to send the gratitude of those on the Liberal Benches to the Armed Forces, and especially to the Army and the Royal Marines. I would ask the House to reflect for a moment on how foolish is the decision of the present Government to cut down these splendid infantry regiments when we can see from recent events in Aden how important they are. I should like once more to express more than just my regret, my profound regret, that my own regiment, the Welch Regiment, which is at the present 121 moment engaged in very difficult conditions in Hong Kong, will soon be destroyed if the Government have their wicked way.
I wish the Republic of Southern Yemen every success, and I hope that there will be between us and them a happier relationship in the future than there has been in the past. I should like to ask two questions. First, what is the position of the British civilians in Aden? I understand that some hundreds of them have been left with very little protection at all. What is their position, and to whom do they turn in case of need? Secondly, can the noble Earl give us any information on whether President Nasser is going to continue to stir up the same sort of trouble in the future as he has in the past, and whether there is the likelihood of any peace in Southern Arabia if he carries on in the way he has been behaving in recent years?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I know that all those who have served this country so valiantly abroad in these difficult circumstances will much appreciate the handsome words that have fallen from the lips of the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, and the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore. The latter seemed to want me to go a little wide in answer to some of his questions, and I will not follow him into the future of the Welch Regiment, or one or two other matters he raised. He asked about the British nationals remaining in Aden, and I am informed that it looks as though about 250 British citizens will stay in Aden after Independence, and that there will also be a number of citizens of the United States of America and of various West European countries. They will be in close touch with the Embassy and all possible advice will be offered to them, but of course the decision whether to stay or to leave is for them to take. There has been. I understand, a marked improvement in the atmosphere in Aden and the expatriate community is in good heart, so I hope I can reassure the noble Lord on that point.
The noble Lord, Lord Carrington, asked me what had been agreed, and I suppose he has not had the advantage (indeed, I imagine no one has had the advantage) of seeing the communiqué which is being placed in the Library. 122 He will see from that communiqué, for example, that the two delegations discussed the transfer of sovereignty and the termination of the Queen's protection, which will be incorporated in the People's Republic of Southern Yemen, and agreed that all powers and rights vested in the Crown immediately before Independence will vest in the new Sovereign State accordingly from November 30, 1967, the date of Independence. The two delegations also agreed that their two countries will establish diplomatic relations and will exchange Ambassadors. I have no doubt that I could give the noble Lord further information, but this will answer some part of his question.
§ LORD ROWLEYMy Lords, in view of the suggestion made by the leader of the N.L.F. that Arabs living in Arab territory find themselves in complete sympathy with the Arab cause, will it be borne in mind in settling the future of islands like Perim that it will not help peace in that part of the world if any al tempt is made to add another stranglehold over the ships of the Republic of Israel?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, anything that is suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Rowley, with his great experience of this part of the world, will of course be considered, but on the subject of the islands I think I had better not say anything this afternoon.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Earl one question. I understood him to say that, irrespective of the final financial arrangements, we had agreed that civil and military aid should continue for six months, which means that British taxpayers' money will continue to be paid to Aden. Is the noble Earl aware that if the taxpayers' money is paid out for six months, or for a longer period, there will be wide feelings of resentment in this country unless at the same time provision is made for compensation to be paid to civilians for the loss and damage that they have sustained?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I will make sure that this point is studied. The aid will be continued at the existing level for six months and all these matters can be considered during negotiations, but I should say that it 123 is aid to South Arabia and not to Aden only.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, I was referring to aid to South Arabia.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, the noble Earl has indicated that he does not wish to be drawn into answering questions regarding the islands, but I should like to put to him a number of questions regarding the present position of the islands as opposed to future policy regarding them. I think it was said in the Statement that the wishes of the inhabitants of the islands had been ascertained. How were those wishes ascertained, and what were the results of those consultations? Also, with reference to the present position in the islands, am I right in thinking that we have not yet relinquished sovereignty over the three territories concerned; and can the noble Earl tell us whether any British troops are remaining on any of these island territories at the present time?
§ LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURYMy Lords, can the noble Earl tell us what is the actual figure of aid which will be paid out during the next six months? Secondly, what is happening to all the installations, upon which a great deal of taxpayers' money has been spent over these last few years? Have those installations been abandoned, are they being handed over, or is any charge being made for them?
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, if the N.L.F. do not form a Government to whom will the aid be paid?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, there are one or two points which I can answer, and one or two which I cannot. I hope that the noble Earl, Lord Jellicoe, will not press me very much about the islands, but perhaps I can answer one question he raised and say that there will be no British forces remaining on the islands. I was also asked how much this aid amounted to. It is £12 million over six months, but given like that the figure is slightly misleading because £3 million is the residue of an earlier settlement. So it is really £9 million over six months, which is what was being paid before. It is being paid at the existing rate. With regard to the 124 installations, as is well known, they are being handed over.
As to the payment of the money, we naturally assume that these gentlemen are capable of forming a Government. If we did not make that assumption, then clearly we should not enter into an agreement with them. If the noble Viscount thinks that is amusing, I hope he will realise that not only politicians but many other people who are respected very highly clearly have sufficient confidence to believe that is the right answer.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, is the enormous amount of British capital sunk in the oil refinery, the airfield establishment, the vast new Army camps and the port installations now to be written off as a dead loss?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I believe that is the position.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, if I may interrupt the noble Earl, I am afraid I have just given the noble Lord, Lord Segal, a false answer. I was referring to the military installations, not to the oil installations.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I was asking about the port installations and the refinery, also.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I am sure the refinery would not be written off.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I was not suggesting that the noble Earl had given me a false answer. I was merely rising to say that he had hardly given me an answer at all. In fact, he dealt with just one of my four questions. I feel that I must press him on one further point, because we are told in the announcement we have heard that decisions regarding the islands have been taken by Her Majesty's Government. May I ask the noble Earl whether or not we have relinquished sovereignty over them? This is surely a question which deserves an answer.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I understand that they have been ceded, but the final arrangement has not been made as to to whom they are ceded.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, that is one of the most astonishing statements I have ever heard in your Lordships' House.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, have Her Majesty's Government ascertained whether the recognition that they are giving to this new Power in Southern Yemen will also be given by all other Powers?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, of course we cannot be sure of that, but if they wish to become a member of the United Nations we shall certainly join in sponsoring them.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, the noble Earl rebuked my noble friend behind for asking what he said was a frivolous question. But what did the noble Earl's answer mean? Could he explain what it meant?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, an act of cession has been prepared, but a Government has to come into existence before it can become fully operative.
§ LORD CARRINGTONThen the islands have not been ceded.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, arrangements have been made to cede them. I do not know whether the noble Lord wishes to press this past a certain point. He will realise that information has only just come in. He knows that I have not full information as to all the details, but I should have thought I had told the House enough to satisfy it.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, the noble Earl has not told us enough to satisfy me. There are three groups of islands. There is Kamaran, in the Red Sea; there is Perim, opposite Aden, and there are the Kuria Muria islands, 300 miles up the coast off Muscat. Am I right in assuming that the intention is to cede the Kuria Muria islands to South Arabia?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I cannot make any such statement. I should rather have thought that what I said earlier would have restrained the noble Earl from putting these questions. It is a highly delicate matter. There are some highly delicate discussions going on and, while the House is entitled to ask questions at any time, it is doubtful whether pressing some of these points is 126 going to help. If the noble Earl wants a technical answer, the sovereignty over Perim was relinquished by Order in Council made yesterday, under the 1967 Act, and the Order does not need to specify to which country the islands go. Since the noble Earl is anxious for any information that is in my power to give him, I may say that I understand that a representative of the High Commissioner did visit the islands and make the inquiries. The noble Earl asked a question as to how the opinion of the population was elicited—
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I do not wish to pursue the matter with the noble Earl, but my question was addressed not to Perim but to the Kuria Muria islands. But in view of what he has said, I feel are quite incapable of extracting further information at this stage, and therefore I will not pursue the matter.