HC Deb 13 April 1960 vol 621 cc1249-50
13. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the Cyprus negotiations.

28. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the negotiations regarding Cyprus.

Mr. Profumo

I have nothing to add to the Answers I gave on 6th April, except that the discussion in Cyprus will, of course, be adjourned for the period of Easter.

Mr. Donnelly

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the Foreign Secretary's final terms are faring in these negotiations?

Mr. Profumo

The negotiations are still in progress. There is no question of a breakdown. This morning, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies held meetings, first, with Archbishop Makarios and then with Dr. Kutchuk. I have not yet had a report of the outcome.

Mr. Callaghan

Is it the case that we started by saying that we could not manage with less than 170 miles, that the Archbishop said we could not have more than 36 and that then we came down to 120 and he went up to 80? Now he has come up to 93. Does not this process of Eastern bargaining bode rather ill for the future of our base in Cyprus? Can the Government give an assurance that there is a determination on their part to ensure that there shall be a satisfactory settlement, and, in so far as they are able to comment, can they also give us an assurance that the Archbishop is willing that there should be a base of a proper size established there?

Mr. Profumo

The Archbishop is willing that there should be a base. He is negotiating, as we are, under the London and Zurich Agreements. I cannot quote figures about the size of the sovereign base areas, but I think that I can say that the gap certainly has been narrowed. With regard to the final situation, I hope that the House appreciates that this is not merely a question of numbers of square miles. The United Kingdom has responsibilities and obligations which we cannot abrogate.