HC Deb 19 November 1951 vol 494 cc12-3W
90 and 91. Mr. Bing

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will state the terms of the agreement entered into with the United States Government under which the United States Government are entitled to station aircraft and troops in Malta; and whether the Government of Malta or the Maltese Parliament have been consulted in regard to this agreement;

(2) what representations he has received from the Prime Minister of Malta or the Leader of the Opposition in the Maltese Parliament in regard to the basing of United States troops in Malta; and what action he proposes to take.

Mr. Lyttelton

No formal agreement with the United States authorities on the subject has yet been signed. Provisional arrangements are, however, already in operation under which certain temporary facilities are provided for United States Naval Air Forces in Malta. The Prime Minister of Malta was consulted before these arrangements were made and raised no objection.

I have received no representations from the Prime Minister of Malta on this matter. The Leader of the Opposition in the Maltese Assembly has recently raised the matter informally with the Minister of State. It was made clear to him that discussion on this or other matters of public concern in Malta could constitutionally be conducted only with the. Maltese Government.