HC Deb 20 May 1958 vol 588 cc1089-92
28. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the decision not to press the United States of America to give up Chaguaramas for the site of the capital of the West Indies Federation.

29. Mr. Leather

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the report of the expert committee on the site for the capital of the West Indies.

Mr. Profumo

Her Majesty's Government would certainly have invited the United States Government voluntarily to surrender their rights at Chaguaramas as an act of generosity if the Joint Commission had reported that all or part of the base could be given up without adversely affecting defence, or could be replaced at any reasonable cost. But in view of its report, and bearing in mind the overriding importance of the base to the defence of the Western Hemisphere, which is also of vital concern to the West Indies, Her Majesty's Government could not reasonably ask the United States Government either to relinquish part of the base or to meet the very considerable cost of moving the whole of it to a less satisfactory site.

Her Majesty's Government realise that the Commission's findings will cause disappointment, but they hope that the Governments of the West Indies and of Trinidad will recognise that they make Her Majesty's Government's attitude inevitable.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is not this decision a very serious set-back to the new Federation? Is it too late, even at this stage, to press the United States to give up at least part of this area for a capital? It seemed to me, when I visited the area, that there was plenty of room for that without infringing on the defence needs. If that is out of the question, can the Minister say what is the next step in finding a capital? Is the whole thing in the melting pot once again?

Mr. Profumo

The hon. Member has asked a number of questions. Of course, it is a serious step, but this was a unanimous report of representatives of all the Governments concerned and I must disagree with the hon. Gentleman that part of Chaguaramas could be given up. I have just come back from there, and speaking as a layman—both the hon. Gentleman and myself are laymen in this connection—I should be at variance with him, and I think that my view would command as much credence there as would his view. Now that the Government of the Federation has been set up, it will be for that body to take such decisions. Perhaps I should add that Her Majesty's Government will always stand ready to give such advice as may be sought from them.

Mr. Leather

Is my hon. Friend aware that, like him, I know Chaguaramas very well and I find the Joint Commission's report completely astonishing, particularly in view of the neglect and decayed condition into which the United States naval authorities have allowed the district to fall? Is he aware that one finds the statement of the Colonial Office very disturbing because it certainly can be interpreted as slamming the door in the face of the West Indian Government? Will he give us every assurance that the Colonial Office will do all possible to find a solution agreeable to the West Indian Government?

Mr. Profumo

I am sorry that my hon. Friend does not agree with me, but at least I have agreeing with me a body of technical information which is very large and entirely unanimous. As to the statement made by Her Majesty's Government, the Governments of the West Indies and Trinidad were reluctant, for reasons which Her Majesty's Government fully recognise, to issue any agreed statement of conclusions on the publication of the report. Had we waited to make plain the attitude of Her Majesty's Government, perhaps until after the United States had made a statement, we might have been criticised for making our statement under pressure from the United States, and that was not the case at all. I believe that it is for the Federal Government to try to find an alternative solution, and I am sure that it would not be for my right hon. Friend to seek to impose a solution on any of the parties.

Mr. Callaghan

Whatever may be the technical considerations, is not the overwhelming political consideration the setting up of a new Federation which desires a capital in this place? Does the hon. Gentleman really mean that this site is so vital to the United States; and, if that is so, may I ask why there has not been further development of it during the last few years? Is the Under-Secretary aware that the United States is spending something like £1,500 million a year overseas, and is he really saying that the cost of establishing a new site would be so great that the United States is not prepared to do that, even in view of the political implications?

Mr. Profumo

I am anxious that this matter shall be understood by hon. Members on both sides of the House. First, there is a wide difference of opinion, even among people in the West Indies, about whether Chaguaramas is the right site for a capital. There is no agreed conclusion on that. There is a wide measure of disagreement—perhaps the hon. Gentleman had better read the report for himself.

It is not a question of what it will cost to move this enormous base to a less good site but the fact that it would take from between five and ten years for the United States to be able to establish a military shield once again in front of the West Indies for the protection of the Western nations. In view of those things, and if he will read the report, I believe that the hon. Member will consider it better to desist from further inflammatory statements.

Mr. J. Griffiths

We regret this decision but if it is to stand, and as any other site for the capital is almost certain to cost a great deal more money, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to accept the financial responsibility?

Mr. Profumo

I do not accept the contention of the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Callaghan

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the hon. Gentleman's reply, and as, thanks to his courtesy I have received from the Colonial Office a copy of the Report, I beg to give notice that, having read the Report, I shall endeavour to raise this matter on the Adjournment.