MAURITIUS

HC Deb 08 March 1968 vol 760 cc838-41

Mr. Braine (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making in regard to the Independence celebrations next week in the light of the current state of emergency and whether he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. George Thomson)

As the House will have heard, we have regretfully decided that we must advise Her Majesty the Queen that the visit to Mauritius for the Independence celebrations by Her Royal Highness Prinncess Alexandra should not take place.

Owing to the continuation of violence in Mauritius, we felt anxiety about whether it would be desirable to carry on with the visit. Accordingly, my noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Shepherd, flew out to Mauritius last Sunday to investigate the situation on the ground and to report. The decision which I have just announced has been made on the basis of his advice and after the fullest consultation by him with the Government of Mauritius.

Both we and the Mauritius Government had hoped that the state of emergency could have been terminated before Her Royal Highness' visit, but this has not proved possible and, in these circumstances, we have decided that we would be prudent not to add at this time to the responsibilities of the security forces in the islands.

The Government of Mauritius have issued a statement referring to the regret with which they have learnt of this decision and the great disappointment which will be caused to the people of Mauritius. We share this regret and disappointment that this decision should have been necessary.

At the celebrations Her Majesty's Government will be represented by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the constitutional functions which Her Royal Highness should have carried out, such as the opening of the Mauritius Parliament on 12th March, will be carried out by Sir John Rennie, the new Governor General, as the representative of Her Majesty.

Mr. Braine

I am sure the whole House will have learned with regret of the decision on advice that Her Royal Higness should not go to Mauritius at this time, and also, of course, of the circumstances which led to the decision being made. Equally, I am certain that the whole House will agree that the Commonwealth Secretary's decision is correct.

May I ask him whether agreement has yet been reached on the joint defence arrangements, which included arrangements for internal security, which were agreed in principle at the Constitutional Conference in 1965, and whether the British troops in the island already are going to continue to be there after independence, and, if so, whether any information can be given as to how long, and whether, indeed, it will be necessary to reinforce them?

Mr. Thomson

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman said at the beginning of his question, and I think he is right that the House, and indeed, the country, will feel that it would have been quite wrong to have taken any risks in regard to this matter.

In relation to the defence agreement, agreement has now been reached between the Government of Mauritius and the Government here about the defence agreement, and this will be signed on Independence Day. With regard to British troops who are at present there over the period of the celebrations, there will be two companies of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry on the island instead of the one there just now. There is a routine relief operation taking place, and this enables us to ensure that the troops are increased over the period of the Independence celebrations and the company being relieved is expected to leave Mauritius shortly after the Independence celebrations are over. We must leave the decision as to whether they will remain to be taken in the light of the security situation afterwards.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Would the Secretary of State tell us what is the significance of the Ministry of Housing going there? Is it because housing conditions in Mauritius are so awful that they need expert advice? Further, could the Minister say how many British passports there are likely to be in Mauritius and whether Mauritian citizens who have British passports are likely to be treated in the same way as emigrants from Kenya?

Mr. Thomson

Is it normal, when celebrations of independence are taking place, that a member of the British Cabinet goes out to lead the British delegation to the celebrations. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing was closely associated with the constitutional developments in Mauritius during the period he was Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I think he is widely regarded as a very suitable person to be undertaking this duty.

With regard to my hon. Friend's second question, I should like to assure him that there is not in Mauritius the same kind of problem with regard to holders of British passports as has caused us such difficulty in some, other countries of the Commonwealth.

Sir G. Nabarro

In view of the racial passions in Mauritius, the evidence of which is the postponement of the Royal visit, may I press the right hon. Gentleman on the future defence arrangements? Is he sure it is wise to abdicate all defence responsibility for Mauritius? Should we not have a permanent infantry battalion stationed there, and has not the island special strategic possibilities as a staging post?

Mr. Thomson

I have just told the House, as the hon. Gentleman will recall, that we are entering into a defence agreement after independence with the Government of Mauritius. We do have certain defence installations on Mauritius, and we shall, of course, decide the question whether British troops are required to continue in Mauritius beyond independence in the light of the situation as it develops.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

How does the Secretary of State interpret the reports of the presence of Soviet vessels of various kinds in waters near Mauritius? May I further ask him whether he will concert with the Mauritius independence Government measures to ensure that there is no repetition of what happened in Zanzibar shortly after the independence celebrations?

Mr. Thomson

With regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, we are keenly aware of the presence of Soviet vessels in many waters of the world, and the waters of the Indian Ocean around Mauritius are no exception in this respects. I am sorry, but I have forgotten what the last part of the question was.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

I asked the Secretary of State whether he will concert with Her Majesty's Government of Mauritius measures to ensure that there will be no repetition of what happened in Zanzibar shortly after the independence celebrations.

Mr. Thomson

Well, it is precisely because of our anxiety to be of the greatest help to the independent Government of Mauritius in maintaining stability that we have entered into this defence agreement. Mauritius is a country which has long associations with Britain, and it has deep democratic traditions. I think it was very striking that, despite the very real differences of view about the timetable for independence, the opposition in Mauritius decided, after it lost the elections, that it must accept the democratic view of the majority. I am sure it will be hoped by everyone in this House that those democratic traditions and the rule of law in Mauritius will prevail.