HC Deb 26 January 1944 vol 396 cc679-80
32. Sir L. Lyle

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what West Indian islands are included in the proposed Anglo-U.S.A. talks.

Colonel Stanley

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the new arrangement for a regular system of West Indian Conferences primarily designed to provide for discussion of matters of common interest between representatives, who may include unofficial, from the American territories and British Colonies in the Caribbean. The Conferences will be held under the auspices of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission, and the British Colonies entitled to send delegates are the Bahamas, Barbados, British Guiana, British Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad and the Leeward and Windward Islands.

Sir L. Lyle

None of the French Colonies?

Colonel Stanley

No, Sir.

37. Mr. Riley

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the West Indian delegates to be appointed to represent the British West Indian Colonies at the first West Indian Conference to be held under the auspices of the Anglo-American Commission will be appointed by the respective West Indian Governments; whether he will give consideration to the desirability of recommending the appointment of at least one qualified unofficial representative from each British Colony or group; and whether the place, time and duration of this conference has yet been decided.

Colonel Stanley

The West Indian delegates to the first West Indian Conference will be appointed by the Governors of the Colonies concerned. As announced in the full communique about the setting up of the Conferences, one of the two delegates from each British Colony will normally be an unofficial. I am not yet in a position to make a statement about the time and place of the first Conference, as discussions are still proceeding, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

Mr. Riley

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Anglo-American Commission, in their Report, laid down that these Conferences must have a democratic approach and must be representative of the peoples concerned?

Colonel Stanley

As I say, it is stated in the communiqué that normally one of the two delegates from each Colony will be an unofficial one.