§ 8. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why, when the Trinidad Government had on several occasions in 1961 refused to make the requested financial contribution to an expanded defence programme proposed by the then Federal Government, he has nevertheless made acceptance of this obligation a condition of financial aid to Trinidad; whether he is aware of the resentment this has caused in Trinidad, particularly as the Trinidad Government have not been informed of the make-up of the sum demanded; and whether he will now cancel this alleged debt.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. John Tilney)I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman is misinformed. Right up till July, 1962, the official position of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago was understood by the other Governments concerned to be, in the words of the Trinidad Government, that they were "not disposed to object" to meeting their share of the Federal Government's expanded defence programme. The condition in our Aide-Mémoire of 30th October, 1962, refers solely to this share which Trinidad and Tobago agreed in December, 1960, and rejected in July, 1962.
I cannot accept that the Trinidad Government have not been informed of the make-up of the sum in question, since this was discussed with them several times, most recently at the Common Services Conference in July, 1962.
The answer to the third part of the Question is "No, Sir".
§ Mr. ChapmanHas the hon. Member read the new White Paper from the Trinidad Government, in which the 1462 reasons are given, namely, that the Trinidad Government understand that at a meeting held on 10th December, 1960, with the then Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies present, an agreement was reached under which the British Government would pay roughly one-third of this expanded defence programme, and that the Trinidad Government refused to continue with its payment when they discovered that the British Government refused to honour that agreement? Is this statement in the Trinidad White Paper—a statement which reflects on the British Government—true or untrue? It is important for the good name of Britain that a clear answer should be given on this matter.
§ Mr. TilneyThe British Government never agreed to pay that sum, especially when there were funds available from Federal sources. We merely undertook to consider it. Of course I have read the White Paper, and it is made clear in it that Trinidad and Tobago, in February, 1961, would not agree to contribute one cent more to any expansion programme. What we are discussing is the contribution which, as the same White Paper says, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago had already agreed to make.