HC Deb 06 February 1962 vol 653 cc230-5
The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will make a statement on the West Indies.

As the House is aware, I paid a visit to the West Indies from 13th to 28th January. My object was to discuss with the leaders of the Governments in the Eastern Caribbean the situation arising from Jamaica's desire to leave the Federation. During my visit I had talks with the Federal Government and with the Premiers of Barbados and Trinidad, as well as with Chief Ministers of all the Leeward and Windward Islands which form part of the Federation of the West Indies.

My talks revealed that we face this situation: Jamaica has declared its determination to withdraw from the Federation and this decision has been accepted by Her Majesty's Government. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago have decided not to participate in any federation of the Eastern Caribbean. Finally, the Premier of Barbados and the Chief Ministers of the Leeward and Windward Islands, while advocating a new federation between their territries, are agreed that the present one should be dissolved.

In these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government have with regret reached the conclusion that they have no alternative but to arrange for the dissolution of the present Federation.

Under the Federation, however, a number of common services of great value have been operating in the area. We are anxious to ensure their continuation on a regional basis pending clarification of the constitutional position throughout the area.

Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, decided to introduce legislation into Parliament very shortly which will enable us to dissolve the present Federation, and to set up an interim organisation, under a Commissioner appointed by Her Majesty's Government, which will be responsible for running the common services for the time being, until some more permanent arrangements for their operation can be worked out in conjunction with the Governments of the West Indies.

Her Majesty's Government regard the suggested federation of Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands as a promising development. They consider, however, that a great deal of careful study both here and in the West Indies will be needed before any final decisions can be taken and they propose for their part to initiate this study in the very near future.

Mr. Healey

While I am sure that all of us regret the collapse of the original plans for a Caribbean Federation, may I express what I am sure are the wishes of the whole House, that Jamaica and Trinidad shall prosper as independent States within the Commonwealth?

Will the Colonial Secretary accede to the wishes of all parties in Jamaica that the independence celebrations should be enabled to take place before the hurricane season in the West Indies begins, in mid-August?

On the largest question of the West Indian territories as a whole, may I say that we would support any decision which Her Majesty's Government and the other Governments concerned may take to ensure continuation of existing common services? While recognising the need for the maximum unity among the smaller islands, now left rather ship-wrecked on their own outside the original plans for federation, may I ask the Colonial Secretary not to close his mind to the possibility of organising a wider association among all Caribbean States, including those outside the British Commonwealth?

Mr. Maudling

I am grateful to the hon. Member for what he said in the second part of his supplementary question. The question of a wider organisation, particularly on the economic side, must be kept constantly in mind, because fragmentation in this area must be avoided if that is possible. The date of Jamaica's independence is to be discussed at the present conference. I know that there are many hurricanes in that area, sometimes natural and sometimes personal.

Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan

While sharing the regret which the whole House will feel at the failure of this Federation, would not my right hon. Friend agree that we ought at some time to have a chance of discussing the wider aspects of the matter and paying our tribute to all those, the Governor-General and the Ministers and the Commissioner in this country, who have worked very hard and so well to try to make this scheme a success?

Will my right hon. Friend consider publishing a White Paper in connection with the proposed legislation to outline the rather complicated arrangements which there will have to be for the common services and explaining what will be the rôle of the United Kingdom? May I remind him that we had an important rôle to play in the days before federation and that we shall have another important rôle in initiating the beginnings ultimately of a new Federation?

Mr. Maudling

I think that the occasion for a discussion, which I will welcome, will arise when the House debates this legislation. During the course of this month I hope to discuss with the other Governments concerned the details of the interim organisation and I will then consider the best method of making them public, possibly by a White Paper as my hon. Friend suggests.

Mr. Grimond

While regretting this turn of events, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman his intentions about the further step of which he has spoken, that of a projected federation between Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands? Might it not be worth considering sending out a high-level commission to discuss this and the related question of a wider federation; or, if that is not in the Government's mind, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how this study is to be prosecuted?

Mr. Maudling

This was a new idea which was put to me while I was there. We are now considering it in London. The Governments concerned are studying its economic and financial aspects and I hope in a short time to have their considered views on the extent to which such a Federation would be viable. When we have those views, we can consider the best procedure from then on.

Mr. Fisher

May I put two questions to my right hon. Friend? What does he think of the prospect of a Federation of the eight smaller islands, bearing in mind that, although they might not be really viable, that would be better than complete fragmentation? Secondly, while we were all glad to hear that he felt that the prospects of coming to an arrangement about shared services were fairly good, how does he intend to implement that arrangement? Does he intend to call a conference of West Indian Governments to discuss it, possibly after the Jamaican election, or when does he intend to take the initiative in this matter?

Mr. Maudling

I agree that fragmentation would be the worst thing, but I would not like to commit myself on the question of a federation of the eight until we have had a good deal more thought about it. I would have in mind handing over to an interim commission the assets, obligations and services of the present federation and calling a conference, possibly this summer or some other suitable time, when the interested Governments, including Jamaica and Trinidad, could discuss permanent arrangements for these services.

Mr. Chapman

First, on the possibility of federation of the eight islands, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will be able to reach an early decision about this, say, by the spring of this year? Is the Minister not aware that following all the trouble there has been in the West Indies there is now a terrific driving spirit among the eight for federation? It is important to capture this spirit before it begins to subside. Is he further aware that many of them are willing to give up some of the top-heavy Ministerial system for a tighter Federation, and that this, too, needs to be caught while the spirit is there if that federation is to be made a success? Will he, therefore, give us an assurance that he will try to reach a very early decision about the possibility of this Federation?

Secondly, can he confirm what he appeared to make quite clear in his statement, namely, that there is to be independence for Trinidad, and that there is to be early legislation to provide it?

Mr. Maudling

I agree about the desirability of moving ahead quickly on this, but, having seen one Federation in the West Indies collapse in the way in which we are seeing now, I would be unhappy about setting up another until I was confident that it would last. I agree, however, that no time must be wasted.

It is only recently that we have had a formal communication from the Trinidad Government. I shall be ready to discuss procedure with the Trinidad Government at a mutually convenient time.

Mr. Gaitskell

Will not the Minister agree that in the eight islands which are now outside the previous Federation, or shortly to be outside it, there is a very strong desire not to be thrust back into the position of Crown Colonies? Before any change takes place, that is to say, in which there is a reversion to the pre-federation situation, will he consider trying to work out with them a satisfactory solution which will give them, in turn, independence on the basis either of federation, or possibly even union among themselves?

Mr. Maudling

I certainly want to make the quickest possible progress with this, but, Jamaica and Trinidad both being determined to leave the Federation, I think that the only practical thing to do is to dissolve the present Federation and work from then on. I do not want to reach conclusions about Barbados and the other islands until the people have had a chance to think the matter out, because immediate reactions to a decision as between one island and another can be not quite the same as permanent reactions. A little time for the people to think these things over dispassionately is rather important at this stage.

Mr. Gaitskell

I agree that we need a little time, but would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is undesirable that there should be any reversion to the previous position, as it were, before he begins to discuss with these islands their own future? Would not it be better to preserve in some form or other the existing Federation until he has attempted at least to try to work out a more satisfactory future for the eight islands?

Mr. Maudling

I do not think that preserving the Federation will serve a useful purpose in the light of what I learned in the West Indies, but I think that it would be desirable, if we could, to reach a fairly clear conclusion on the question of the eight at the time when the legislation to which I referred was passing through the House. I cannot guarantee that, but it would be desirable to do so if we could.