HC Deb 01 December 1947 vol 445 cc34-7
The Minister of Defence (Mr. A. V. Alexander)

I will, with permission, make a statement on the outcome of the discussions about the future employment of Gurkha troops. I am glad to be able to inform the House that the discussions between representatives of the Government of Nepal, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of India about the future employment of Gurkha troops which have been proceeding at Katmandu in an atmosphere of cordiality and goodwill have resulted in the signature there on 9th November of a tripartite memorandum of agreement and accompanying documents.

The arrangements made in the documents signed by the heads of the three delegations include a number of detailed points in regard to which, agreement on the main items having been reached in principle, further negotiations will be required to effect a final settlement. Moreover, a referendum, in accordance with arrangements agreed between the three Governments, is about to be held to ascertain the wishes of the men of eight regular battalions of the Gurkha Rifles and their regimental centres to whom transfer to service with the British Army is being offered. In these circumstances, the three Governments are agreed that, pending the conclusion of a final settlement, covering not only the points already agreed at Katmandu but also the detailed matters remaining for negotiation hereafter, and until the result of the referendum is known, publication of the texts of the documents would be premature and might be misleading.

It has accordingly been decided to announce the main points on which the three Governments are agreed as follow:

  1. (a) Arrangements have been made for the continued employment of Gurkha officers and soldiers in the Armies of the United Kingdom and India;
  2. (b) The Government of Nepal have agreed that His Majesty's Government may employ Gurkha officers and soldiers up to the number required to maintain eight battalions or their equivalent at peacetime strength on mutually satisfactory terms and conditions of service. The two Governments will consult together on the question of recruiting Gurkha troops in excess of this strength.
  3. (c) It has been agreed to transfer to the service with the British Army all volunteers from the regular battalions of the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th Gurkha Rifles, together with personnel of their regimental centres, who opt for such service in the referendum about to be held. The Government of India will endeavour to make good, from Gurkha soldiers from other regiments who have completed their engagements and do not wish to continue their service in the Indian Army, any deficiency caused by those who decline the option.
  4. (d) The Government of India have agreed to the use by the British Army authorities of the existing recruiting depots at Gorakhpur and Ghum for a temporary period, pending at establishment elsewhere in India, or in Nepal, of permanent recruiting depots required for Gurkha units of the British Army.
  5. (e) The Government of India have agreed to make available on mutually satisfactory terms, for purposes connected with the employment of Gurkha troops:
    1. (i) the necessary transit facilities for the conveyance by road and rail of personnel and stores between Nepal and an Indian port;
    2. (ii) the use of the Indian postal, money order, and telegraphic services;
    3. (iii) specified quantities of certain special foodstuffs required for rations;
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    4. (iv) the necessary Indian currency for pay, etc.;
    5. (v) facilities for transmitting Indian currency to Nepal.
  6. (f) The Government of the United Kingdom have agreed to use the corresponding Indian pay codes and rates of pay as the basis of the scale to be applied to Gurkha officers and soldiers and to give an appropriate additional allowance during service abroad.
I feel sure that the House will share the Government's view that these arrangements are very satisfactory and will wish me to convey to His Highness the Maharaja and the Nepal Government and to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Government His Majesty's Government's cordial appreciation of the friendly and co-operative spirit in which our wishes have been met. We are confident that, with equal good will, the further negotiations will also be successful. For our part, we are determined to operate the agreement in a spirit of understanding and mutual trust; and we have no doubt that, as between friends, its provisions will be loyally observed and can be smoothly carried into effect.

Earl Winterton

I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's statement, which was only concerned with the recruitment depots, that the training depots of these men will be outside India. Is he in a position at the moment to mention where those training centres will be, and can he make it quite clear that when they leave they become part of the British Forces and have nothing to do with the Hindustan or Pakistan Forces?

Mr. Alexander

I think a study of my reply will answer the last part of the noble Lord's supplementary question. I do not wish at the moment to tell the House exactly where the troops will be stationed.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that statement, which, of course, only goes a very short way towards meeting the wishes of the Gurkhas, may I ask how these four regiments, which have been chosen for service with the British Forces, have come to be chosen? Although one two of them have the highest possible record, one or two of them have not. What the Gurkhas think, and what is obviously true, is that these regiments were chosen on a purely administrative basis because they happened to be serving in Burma, whereas the others were serving in less easily controlled places. Is there no chance of getting the four best Gurkha regiments for ourselves, instead of these four which, I should imagine, have been chosen by the Director of Movements?

Mr. Alexander

I have heard no word of complaint from the military staffs representing His Majesty's Government that the actual arrangements now made are not entirely satisfactory to them. Of course, if there is any special point which needs looking into, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will communicate with me, I will make inquiries, but from all the information given to me I feel entirely satisfied.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is it intended to alter in any way the very satisfactory relationship between the British officers serving in Gurkha units and the Gurkha members of those units?

Mr. Alexander

I do not think it will be altered at all.