HC Deb 11 February 1965 vol 706 c522
3. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many United States bases there are on British colonial territory; and if he will list the Colonial Territories which are subject to some defence agreement with the United States of America.

21. Mr. Snow

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonial Territories there are United States bases; and in respect of which territories there are defence agreements with the United States of America.

Mrs. White

Under defence agreements concluded in 1941 and 1961 the United States have a right to maintain naval or air bases in seven Colonial Territories, namely Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas and British Guiana. These rights are not at present being exercised in British Guiana.

There are no defence agreements with the United States affecting any other colony but in certain of them the United States enjoy facilities of a largely scientific character.

Mr. Marten

While thanking the hon. Lady for that detailed reply and in view of the fact that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has in the past had a well-known implacable opposition to foreign bases on British territory, may I ask her for an assurance that no steps will be taken to abrogate these agreements?

Mrs. White

The matter has not even been considered.

Mr. Snow

Is my hon. Friend aware that many of us hope that she will watch most carefully the effect of this type of agreement and occupation, if I may use that word without being rude, on British institutions in these territories, which in many cases are very proud of retaining their own British characteristics?

Mrs. White

I sympathise with those concerned, but we have received no representations from any of these territories which lead us to suppose that the present installations are not welcome.