§ 50. Mr. Henigasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the future constitutional position of British Honduras.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsI have at present nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 18th November.—[Vol. 773, c. 191.]
§ Mr. HenigIs this not a disappointing situation? As this is one of our few remaining colonies, is it not time the Government laid down some kind of timetable within which British Honduras can gain its independence?
§ Mr. RobertsIt is our intention that British Honduras should proceed to independence and at the pace at which its Government consider it should adopt. No formal request has been received from the Government of British Honduras so far for a constitutional conference.
§ Mr. BraineSince the repudiation of the mediator's report by the Government of British Honduras, have there been talks, official or unofficial, between that Government and Guatemala or between Her Majesty's Government and Guatemala? Can we have an assurance here and now that the wishes of the people of British Honduras will be paramount?
§ Mr. RobertsI can give the assurance asked for. As the hon. Gentleman says, since the failure of mediation we have been considering other means of solving this dispute.