HC Deb 26 February 1959 vol 600 cc1281-2
28. Mr. Brockway

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the official discussions which have taken place with the Government of Ceylon and the Maldivian delegation regarding the status of the Maldivian Government.

30. Mr. Rankin

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he expects the draft agreement for building and maintaining a Royal Air Force staging unit on Gan Island will be ratified.

Mr. Alport

I would refer the hon. Members to my Answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on 20th January. The nego- tiations with the Maldivian Government are continuing, and I will make a statement when they end. The Government of Ceylon is not concerned in these discussions.

Mr. Brockway

May I ask whether these islands and populations are small? Is not there an important principle involved? Is it not the case that Ceylon has always been closely associated with these islands and that its position as an independent member of the Commonwealth should be considered? Is it the case that the Maldivian Government are asking for the recognition of certain rights of self-government before the Royal Air Force bases are established? In view of those facts, is it not desirable that the House should be made aware of what is occurring?

Mr. Alport

I am not at liberty to disclose the nature of the negotiations while they are current. There is no constitutional connection between Ceylon and the Maldives.

Mr. Rankin

Would not it have been fair to the Maldivian Government to have tried to reach agreement before going ahead with the building of an R.A.F. staging post, in view of the fact that the Maldivian Government claim internal sovereign rights which, evidently, the hon. Gentleman does not recognise?

Mr. Alport

We have gone ahead on the basis of the agreement of 1953. We have shown the greatest patience in considering all the points raised by the Government of that time and the subsequent Government, and negotiations are continuing.

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