HC Deb 16 April 1958 vol 586 cc160-3
44. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on the delay in the construction of airfields and other defence installations on Gan in the Maldive Islands.

The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. C. J. M. Alport)

Certain work on the construction of an air staging post on Gan Island in the Maldives, which was started under an agreement initialled by the United Kingdom Government and the then Maldivian Government in December, 1956, has been held up at the request of the new Maldivian Government which came into power in December, 1957. They have asked that the movement of the islanders not so far resettled should be suspended while the arrangements for resettlement and the detailed agreement relating to the air staging post were reviewed. These matters, as well as fresh questions which have since been raised by the Maldivian Government, are still under discussion.

For the convenience of Members I am circulating a more detailed statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Brockway

Does the hon. Member recall an earlier reply on this question in which he stated that satisfactory arrangements had been made for the settlement of the villagers who would be displaced by this scheme? What has occurred since then which has aroused these difficulties?

Mr. Alport

If the hon. Member refers to the annexure which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see that responsibility for the resettlement of Maldivian subjects displaced from their homes as a result of the granting of the Agreed Areas for the purposes specified rests in principle with the Maldivian Government and he will see the very generous offer which has been made by the United Kingdom Government to assist the Maldivian Government in carrying out the process of resettlement.

Sir J. Barlow

Has my hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the allegations of gunboat diplomacy?

Mr. Alport

I have noticed the reports which have appeared in certain overseas newspapers about this. The fact is that all visits paid by previous United Kingdom High Commissioners to Male, the capital of the Maldives, including one made as recently as September of last year, have been paid in one of Her Majesty's ships. This is unavoidable owing to the complete absence of regular communications with Male and the accommodation difficulties there. Her Majesty's Ship "Gambia" was available for the new High Commissioner's initial visit and subsequently he was accommodated in Her Majesty's Ship "Owen", the armament of which is four three-pounder saluting guns. She has therefore a very small bark and no bite.

Following is the statement:

The Air Ministry embarked upon the establishment of an air staging post on Gan Island on the basis of an Agreement initialled by the Maldivian and United Kingdom Governments in December, 1956. This was based upon the 1953 Agreement between the two Governments which reaffirmed the position of the Maldives as being under the protection of Her Majesty. Under the 1953 Agreement the United Kingdom Government are entitled to such defence facilities in the Maldives as they may, after consultation with the Maldivian Government, determine to be required for the defence of the Maldives or any part of the Commonwealth. The 1956 Agreement was the result of consultation in accordance with the 1953 Agreement and constitutes with the 1953 Agreement the legal basis on which the Gan airfield is being constructed. The actual work was begun with the fullest assistance and good will of the Government of the Maldives, to which the airfield will bring a variety of material advantages. The Prime Minister of the Maldives personally escorted the first R.A.F. party to arrive at Gan. A draft Lease Agreement to cover the practical details of the establishment, operation and maintenance of the airfield was handed to the Maldivian Prime Minister in October, 1957.

Under the 1956 Agreement the inhabitants of Gan were to be resettled elsewhere at United Kingdom expense. The then Prime Minister went to Gan in October last to supervise the move. The R.A.F. offered assistance in a variety of forms—transport, site clearance, and materials for rehousing—but most of these offers were not taken up, since the Maldivian authorities explained that they and the villagers themselves preferred to manage in their own way. Under the 1953 Agreement the United Kingdom is bound to refrain from interference in Maldivian internal affairs.

In December a change of Prime Minister occurred in the Maldives and later in the same month the new Maldivian Government requested the United Kingdom to suspend the demolition of dwellings and certain aspects of construction while the arrangements for resettlement and the detailed agreement under discussion with the previous administration were subjected to review. At this stage 574 of the 926 inhabitants of Gan had been resettled in the neighbouring island of Fedu.

In the subsequent negotiations with the Maldivian Government every attempt has been made to meet the difficulties raised by the Maldivians. The latter have however, sought to widen the area of discussion to include commitments entered into by previous Maldivian Governments including the 1953 Agreement. They have now submitted drafts of a new agreement in substitution for the 1953 Agreement and a new version of the draft Gan lease agreement. These documents are receiving careful study.

According to all the evidence we have, the main wish of the remaining islanders on Gan is to be reunited with their fellow villagers on Fedu. Early in March a formal proposal, the text of which I am also circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, was put to the Maldivian Government to the effect that, as part of the Lease Agreement the United Kingdom authorities should build a permanent village on Fedu to accommodate the former Gan islanders and another on the nearby island of Maradu for the former Feduans. In addition the United Kingdom Government would refund, up to a reasonable amount, compensation paid to the resettled islanders for their other non-moveable property and would contribute towards their subsistence for a period of years.

The United Kingdom Government have offered to undertake with the Maldivian Government, once the outstanding Gan agreements have been signed, a substantial programme of economic development over the next five years.

It has been suggested that the United Kingdom has been indulging in "gunboat diplomacy". The facts are that all visits paid by previous United Kingdom High Commissioners to Male, including one as recently as September, 1957, have been paid in one of Her Majesty's ships. This is unavoidable, owing to the complete absence of regular communications with Male, and to accommodation difficulties there. Her Majesty's ships have always been warmly welcomed by the local inhabitants. H.M.S. Gambia was available for the new High Commissioners initial visit. Subsequently he was accommodated in Her Majesty's Survey Ship Owen, the armament of which is four 3 pdr. saluting guns.