§ Mr. Maudling(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the situation in Malta.
§ The Minister of State, Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. George Thomas)Unfortunately, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs is unwell. I know that the House will be sorry to hear that and will wish him a speedy recovery.
Hon. Members will recall that in a statement on 24th January my right hon. Friend described the consultations which Her Majesty's Government held with the Malta Government between August 1966 and January of this year on reductions in our forces in Malta.
On 27th January we received from the Malta Government an Aide Memoire stating that the Malta Government considered the British Government to be in fundamental breach of the Defence Agreement, and that in consequence the Malta Government regarded the British Government as having forfeited all the rights, privileges and facilities to which they were entitled under that Agreement. The Malta Government therefore called upon the British Government forthwith to take the necessary steps to cease making use of those rights, privileges and facilities.
The Defence Agreement has a term of ten years and cannot, in the absence of a fundamental breach by either party, lawfully be terminated before that time except by mutual agreement. Her Majesty's Government cannot accept that they are in breach of the Agreement. On the contrary, Her Majesty's Government consider that any action by the Malta 37 Government purporting to terminate the Defence Agreement would be a breach by the Malta Government of their international obligations and the resulting position would be a very serious one. Her Majesty's Government are entirely satisfied that the proposed rundown of British forces would not put at risk Britain's ability to honour her obligations for the defence of Malta or alter her determination to do so. Her Majesty's Governrnent also consider that they have fully discharged their obligations under the Defence Agreement to consult the Malta Government.
The Prime Minister of Malta made a statement in the Maltese House of Representatives on 27th January setting out in more detail the Malta Government's reasons for claiming that the British Government is in fundamental breach of the Defence Agreement. After making this statement the Prime Minister moved the first reading of a bill to amend the 1966 Visiting Forces Act. I have not yet received details of the form this amendment would take.
Our High Commissioner in Valletta has reported that demonstrations have taken place there during the past few days. There have been no reports of any violence.
Her Majesty's Government are urgently considering the situation created by the Malta Government's Aide Memoire and the action contemplated by the Malta Government in amending the Visiting Forces Act. Meanwhile, I must emphasise that Her Majesty's Government regard the Defence Agreement as being still in force and the status of the British forces and civilians in Malta unchanged. They earnestly hope however that the present difference of view will not lead to the Malta Government taking, any irrevocable action in relation to the Defence Agreement, which they still believe to be mutually advantageous.
The Prime Minister of Malta made a statement in the Maltese House of Representatives on 27th January setting out in more detail the Malta Government's reasons for claiming that the British Government are in fundamental breach of the Defence Agreement. After making this statement, the Prime Minister moved the first reading of a Bill to amend the 1966 Visiting Forces Act. I have not 38 yet received details of the form this amendment would take.
Our High Commissioner in Valetta has reported that demonstrations have taken place there during the past few days. There have been no reports of any violence.
Her Majesty's Government are urgently considering the situation created by the Malta Government's Aide Memoire and the action contemplated by the Malta Government in amending the Visiting Forces Act. Meanwhile, I must emphasise that Her Majesty's Government regard the Defence Agreement as being still in force and the status of the British forces and civilians in Malta unchanged. They earnestly hope, however, that the present difference of view will not lead to the Malta Government taking any irrevocable action in relation to the Defence Agreement, which Her Majesty's Government still believe to be mutually advantageous.
§ Mr. MaudlingI thank the Minister for that statement and would express the hope that his right hon. Friend will make a speedy recovery.
I should like to question the hon. Gentleman on two points. First, is he aware that on this side of the House we feel very great concern about the damage to the economy of Malta and, in particular, about the feelings of the Maltese that they have been let down by the British Government? Second, as this is a matter too serious and too complex to he handled easily by question and answer, and as an all-party C.P.A. delegation has just returned from Malta with which I am sure we shall all want to consult, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he will speak urgently to the Leader of the House and ask him to arrange an early debate, if necessary by rearranging business?
§ Mr. ThomasI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks about my right hon. Friend.
While I do not accept for one moment the earlier part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, because there have been very full consultations, I will, of course, consult the Leader of the House. It is a matter for the Leader of the House rather than for me as to when or if a debate shall take place.
§ Mr. SandysWithout going into the legal aspects of this question, is the Minister aware that a drastic reduction in Service expenditure would upset one of the basic assumptions on which financial aid to Malta was calculated at the time of independence, and do the Government realise that by their mean and shabby behaviour they are strengthening the hands of those in Malta who would like to offer this strategically important base to Russia or Egypt?
§ Mr. ThomasThe right hon. Gentleman follows his usual custom of using strong language on an occasion when all of us want to be careful and considerate in what we say. All the arguments that the right hon. Gentleman has used have obviously been very much to the fore in the consideration which has been going on over several months.
§ Mr. DribergIs my hon. Friend aware that it would be a very great pity if this were to degenerate into an ordinary interparty quarrel, since the concern to which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Barnet (Mr. Maudling) referred, and the affection for Malta and its people, are felt equally on this side of the House? Is my hon. Friend aware that this is a tragic and potentially very dangerous situation, and would he be good enough to ask his right hon. Friend to receive the five hon. Members who have just returned from Malta in order to hear what we were able to find out there in the course of a very intensive weekend's discussions?
§ Mr. ThomasI am deeply grateful to my hon. Friend, who has just returned from Malta. I also believe that it would be wrong for the House to press me today to go any further than I have already gone on this question. Naturally, I will ask the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will receive the five-Member delegation, and I have no doubt in my mind that that customary courtesy will be extended.
§ Mr. HeathAs the Minister of State has asked not to be pressed further today, and as great concern has now been expressed from both sides of the House, could the Leader of the House perhaps give an assurance that he will be willing, through the usual channels, to rearrange business for the end of this week so that we may have a debate after 40 we have had the opportunity of talking to the all-party delegation which has returned and after, we hope, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs has been able to receive it?
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr.. Richard Crossman)Yes, Sir; we shall certainly be prepared to consider, through the usual channels, the views that have been expressed. As I stressed on Thursday, I consider this a matter of high priority, but the exact timing of the debate must be left to the usual channels.
§ Mr. PardoeIs the Minister of State aware that the Defence Treaty is a very vague document? Will he now, with good will, enter into immediate negotion with the Malta Government to ensure that the situation does not escalate into high tempers, which could well happen, and which some of us know about having just returned with the delegation from Malta?
§ Mr. ThomasWe are all anxious that there shall be no escalation into high feeling and that no rigid attitudes shall be adopted. It is for that reason that I have asked the House not to press me any further today.
§ Mr. FisherWould the hon. Gentleman always bear in mind—I have just returned from Malta, too—the strength and unanimity of feeling in Malta from the Governor-General to the boot boy in the hotel, and the very serious effect on the level of unemployment in Malta? Will he consider whether it is really worth the relatively small financial saving if it means incurring this great unemployment and the very serious effect upon Anglo-Maltese relations, which have always been so good? Is he aware that if he would consider opening talks again with the Prime Minister of Malta with a view to phasing the withdrawal out over a somewhat longer period this would be greatly appreciated?
§ Mr. ThomasWe acknowledge that this is a very serious problem for Malta. The House will remember that we have already altered the proposals substantially as a result of representations from the Malta Government. This has added millions to our bill, and that should be remembered. But we have gone further 41 and offered to give as much technical advice and help as we can in dealing with the problem of unemployment that arises.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Dickens.
§ Mr. DickensDoes my hon. Friend—
§ Sir C. TaylorOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As the Government have said that they are prepared to give time for a debate after consultations through the usual channels, should that not now close any further discussion here this afternoon?
§ Mr. SpeakerHon. Members may have some points which they wish to put in this way, especially those hon. Members who have just come back from Malta. Mr. Dickens.
§ Mr. DickensDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that the essence of the situation in Malta is for the Government to reaffirm that it remains their policy to ensure that the unemployment created by the defence rundown to 1970 is phased in such a way as to tie in with the creation of employment opportunities which result from the growing industrial and commercial development in the island?
§ Mr. ThomasMy right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 24th January that the long-term economic prospects for Malta are good. There are encouraging signs. We have offered to do all that we can to help in the difficult period which arises due to the early redundancies.
§ Mr. John PageIs the Minister of State, with his great knowledge of industrial depression, personally aware of the rate of unemployment benefit in Malta, which is under £3 per week for a married man irrespective of the number of children, and that the new policies must result in an unemployment rate of between 15 and 20 per cent. long term over the next six or seven years? Does he not feel it incumbent on him to do all he can to mitigate the agony which could be brought upon this friendly country by the policy of his right hon. Friend?
§ Mr. ThomasThe hon. Gentleman has spoken in moving terms of a human 42 problem. I was brought up in the Rhondda Valley at the time of the depression. I therefore need no persuading of the difficulties and hardships of unemployment. But I am entirely satisfied that Her Majesty's Government have done and are willing to do all they can to help Malta during this difficult period.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill he consider publishing a White Paper giving the exchanges of both sides in order to enable the House to be kept informed? Will he also give the economics of the figures—such as £14 million now and £8 million eventually—to be spent? How much, for example, will find its way back here? That is the sort of information we would like.
§ Mr. ThomasThe hon. Gentleman may be sure that I shall bring his suggestion to the notice of my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanWhile fully appreciating and sympathising with the considerations which have led the Government to cut down military expenditure in Malta, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he does not agree that these considerations apply with even greater force and, indeed, greater priority to our forces in Germany? Could we not take the same action in Germany as in Malta? If that led to a renunciation of the agreement between Britain and West Germany, many of us on this side of the House would welcome that result.
§ Mr. ThomasHappily for me, I am dealing with but one subject this afternoon. My hon. Friend will have to pursue that question in another direction.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Douglas Jay—Statement.
§ Mr. PardoeOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I beg to ask leave to move—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is not the moment for the hon. Gentleman to seek leave to move such a Motion. Mr. Jay—Statement.
§ Later—
§ Mr. PardoeOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for having jumped the gun earlier, but I must ask leave to 43 move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely,
the critical situation in Malta arising from Her Majesty's Government's policy.I know that we have had some sort of commitment from the Leader of the House about an early debate, but I do not think that it is realised sufficiently how very urgent is this matter.It is a definite matter because, following the Secretary of State's statement in the House last Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Malta has called upon Her Majesty's Government forthwith to cease making use of the rights, privileges and facilities under the Visiting Forces Act. It is urgent because on Wednesday of this week in the Malta Parliament amending legislation to the Visiting Forces Act will be introduced. I understand that it is possible for there to be a Second and Third Reading on that day. If that legislation is passed by the Maltese Government on Wednesday of this week, what is likely to happen? Will our troops be withdrawn? If they do, it will be a disaster for Malta. Will they stay, in which case this will hurt Malta's pride and will lead to all manner of very strong and nasty incidents? Will they then stay and have all this trouble cast upon them and upon the Maltese-British relationships?
I fear that once the Maltese Government have taken this action on Wednesday, the British Government will go back into the groove and say, "We cannot negotiate under duress". In order that this matter can be debated fully in the House before Wednesday, when it is to be discussed in the Maltese Parliament, it is necessary to get an earlier and firmer commitment from the Government about their intentions about consultation. Without at this stage expressing any opinion about the rights and wrongs of the argument between the British Government and the Maltese Government, I must and do beg leave to move the Adjournment of the House for this purpose.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member begs leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, 44
the critical situation in Malta arising from Her Majesty's Government's policy.First, I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his courtesy in letting me know this morning that he intended to raise this matter under Standing Order No. 9.This is the kind of occasion on which the operation of Standing Order No. 9 might well have been invoked, despite some technical difficulties to which I gave earnest consideration this morning with my advisers. But I have now to take account of the undertaking of the Leader of the House regarding the rearrangement of business and the exchange which has taken place in the House in the last quarter of an hour or so. In view of that announcement, I do not think that it would be appropriate to anticipate an early date by allowing a Standing Order No. 9 Motion today.