§ 4.42 p.m.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Goronwy-Roberts.)
1300§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I do not rise to renew controversy: indeed, I hope to do exactly the opposite, but I have had a letter from the distinguished constitutionalist who was the adviser to the Gilbert Islands Government. That letter seems to me to require some remarks today. He states that the people of the Gilbert Islands have been very much hurt by the absence of trust in their Government and their people shown by the safeguards which have been suggested in this House under the entrenched clauses of this Bill.
So far as the noble Lord, Lord Hale, myself and others are concerned, when we have urged that there should be safeguards to the entrenched clauses, we have been speaking historically, because there are so many instances where entrenched clauses and even Bills of Rights in the Constitution have not subsequently been observed. The last thing that was in our minds was any absence of trust in the present Government of the Gilbert Islands or in their peoples. This criticism might also apply to the safeguards which were introduced by the Government. Those safeguards were proposed in order that the Gilbert Islands might begin their independence without the difficulties of antagonism with the Banaban people; and I very much hope that the Government and peoples of the Gilbert Islands will now realise that none of us wish to express distrust of their administration of their people.
We wish the new Gilbert Islands success in their exciting endeavour of independence and I want to express solidarity with them in two respects. I do not know any government in the world, unless it is the Government of Tanzania, where Ministers so identify themselves with the people as they do in the Gilbert Islands. The Chief Minister has said he wants no trappings of office, and the adviser to the Government in his letter to me remarks how he met the Chief Minister going to buy a loaf of bread on an old bicycle, shoeless and without a shirt on. Perhaps that was natural, in the heat of the island, but I know of no Government in the world where the Ministers so identify themselves with their people as those who will now be advancing towards independence in the Gilbert Islands.
The second reason for our solidarity with them is their gesture for peace. They 1301 are entirely abolishing their army; they are committed to disbanding the Gilbertese defence force which has previously existed. In a small group of atolls in the Pacific, that seems a sensible as well as an idealistic policy to follow. I hope that their example in this respect will be followed by the newly independent islands of the world. I know of only one instance where it has been carried out before, and that is in Costa Rica in Central America. I want to say in these concluding words that we not only wish the Government of independent Kiribati success in this difficult task but we wish to express our identity with them in seeking social justice in their own country and peace in the Pacific.
§ Baroness ELLESMy Lords, in view of the fact that the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, has spoken I feel it is incumbent on me from these Benches merely to say two very brief words. First, I entirely endorse what the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, has said—shoes, shirts and a defence force do not bring happiness to people—and, secondly, I very much hope from these Benches that the people of the Gilbert Islands will on their independence achieve that happiness and prosperity which is due to them.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, before the Motion is formally moved, may I too say how much I appreciate the tone and substance of what my noble friend has said today and also of what the noble Baroness has contributed on this occasion.
§ Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.