HC Deb 27 June 1967 vol 749 cc245-8
14. Mr. Channon

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Anguilla.

23. Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what consultation he has now had with other Commonwealth countries about the situation in Anguilla.

30. Mr. Rowland

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has now had to intervene in the affairs of Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

43. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situa- tion in St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla in the light of the request made to Her Majesty's Government for assistance.

Mrs. Hart

The Premier of St. Kitts informed us at the beginning of June of his difficulties in maintaining law and order. There have been two aspects to the problem; first, the attempt of Anguilla to secede, and secondly, disturbances in St. Kitts itself. He asked us and some of the Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean for military or police assistance, and has declared a state of emergency.

I have had discussions with the High Commissioners for Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad, with Mr. Southwell, the Deputy Premier of St. Kitts, and with the Premiers and Ministers from the other Associated States in the area. A proposal has been made that a delegation from the independent Commonwealth Caribbean countries should discuss the problems involved with the Premier of St. Kitts, who has now agreed. They are assembling in Antigua today before proceeding to St. Kitts. I shall keep closely in touch with them.

On the one hand, we have no responsibility for internal security in an Associated State. On the other, we feel a great deal of concern. Our British Government Representative is in St. Kitts and has visited Anguilla.

Mr. Channon

Can the hon. Lady say what action Her Majesty's Government are taking in the case of Mr. James Milne-Gaskell, a British subject who is in gaol at the moment? Can she say what charges he has to face, when he will be called to face them, and what Her Majesty's Government are doing about it?

Mrs. Hart

We have been very busy on behalf of Mr. Gaskell. The British Government representative saw him personally last week. He reports that Mr. Gaskell's prison conditions are completely satisfactory. He can move about freely during the day and can have all the food he wants sent in. He and his lawyers are content with the conditions. As to the charge, a charge has been made which relates to some of his previous activities. We have been looking very carefully at the legal position in respect of charges made under the Constitution, and at the moment we are awaiting a reply from the Premier of St. Kitts to a Note that we have sent him on this matter.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Questions and Answers are getting very long. We have a lot of questions to deal with.

Dame Joan Vickers

Can the hon. Lady say whether it is true that St. Kitts landed 150 armed men on Anguilla and will she continue her efforts to get the Government and Opposition in St. Kitts round the table, under the auspices of other West Indian countries?

Mrs. Hart

There appears to have been a landing. The exact numbers I am not sure of. In answer to the second part of the question, that is my intention.

Mr. Rowland

Can my hon. Friend state what independent Commonwealth Caribbean countries are taking part in the discussions which she has announced? Will she bear in mind that this incident should not deter the Government from considering associate status for other small territories which want to be independent but cannot be fully independent?

Mrs. Hart

My present understanding is that the countries sending representatives are Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica. I agree with my hon. Friend in the second part of his question.

Mr. Marten

Is the hon. Lady aware of the report that quantities of arms have been flown into St. Kitts? If they have, from where have they come? Can she give an assurance that they will not be used to impose any wrong solution on Anguilla?

Mrs. Hart

This is where the question of our own responsibility and lack of responsibility for internal security becomes very difficult. There is the problem of where we have concern but not responsibility. As for the shipping of arms to Anguilla, there have been some supplies for the police, which have been legitimately ordered by Mr. Bradshaw, but I have no detailed information about this.

Mr. Wood

Can the hon. Lady add to her reply to my hon. Friend and say when Mr. Gaskell is likely to be brought to trial? Secondly, can she say quite clearly how the situation was left wish Mr. Bradshaw before independence? Had he any right to expect that we should be assuming any responsibility for the internal security of the island after independence?

Mrs. Hart

The understanding with Mr. Bradshaw stretched no further than the constitutional agreement expressed in the White Paper and the West Indies Bill which came before this House. No further understanding than that existed. As for the rest of the question, we are going to make every possible effort and I have no reason to believe that Mr. Bradshaw will not be ready to seek a political solution of the outstanding problems concerning Anguilla. The charge against Mr. Gaskell and the time at which he will be brought to trial are matters which have been the subject of the British Government's representative's Note to Mr. Bradshaw, to which we now await a reply.