§ 32. Mr. Royleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if there is any further development with regard to the proposed West Indies capital at Chaguaramas.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Federal Prime Minister made a statement in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. He said that the United States Government were willing to give an assurance that they would review the whole question of evacuating Chaguaramas after ten years in the light of any changes in methods of warfare which might make it unnecessary for them to retain it. He added that the Federal Government were prepared to accept that assurance.
§ Mr. RoyleWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him, if the Government of the Federation are taking that line, whether Her Majesty's Government will look at this matter wtih a very definite bias in favour of the West Indies Government rather than of the United States?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydReplying about the technical report, I had no option but to make the views of Her Majesty's Government clear. That seemed to me to be 887 absolutely inescapable. I think that our sights should all now be directed on the future. The whole matter of the Federal capital is to be debated in the Federal Assembly in Trinidad tomorrow, and I therefore think that it would be wise to withhold further comment until we see the outcome of their deliberations. I need hardly add that the well-being of the people of the West Indies is very close to the heart of the British Government.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think that the hon. Member intends to raise this matter on the Adjournment tomorrow.