§ Mr. Dalyell (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the safety of British subjects in Ceylon.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)On 11th April, a United Kingdom national, Mr. Paul Wonnacott, who was touring on a motor bicycle, was shot at and killed by insurgents in North Central Ceylon. I am sure the House will join me in sympathising with his relatives.
§ Mr. DalyellIs the slaughter in Ceylon on the scale which it is made out to be by Mr. James Sterba in the Scotsman and on the scale indicated to some of us by Ceylonese Students? Are we altogether happy about the supply of arms? Is the Foreign Office happy that the nomenclature "Maoist intruders" should be given to those who may have a genuine economic grievance? Finally, might we not at least try to act as a mediator before we have an incipient Nigeria-Biafra situation on our hands?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThese questions are always difficult to decide. As this was an uprising of extremists who began by destroying some 30 to 50 police stations in Ceylon, I felt that when Mrs. Bandaranaike asked for some immediate help it was right that we should give it. I will keep the situation closely under review of course. Mediation is not required by the Ceylon Government, who are determined, if they can, to eradicate these extreme insurgents in their country.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonCould my right hon. Friend say a little more about the assistance which has been rendered by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to Her Majesty's Government in Ceylon—because it is still Her Majesty's Government? Is it not a little surprising that the Ceylon Govern- 34 ment should show this coy attitude towards the helicopters which have been made available by this country? Should there not be a little more frankness in these matters?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeMrs. Bandaranaike, I think yesterday or the day before, gave public recognition to what this country had done in Ceylon in the early days of this rising and expressed her own gratitude and the gratitude of her country.
§ Dame Joan VickersIs there any coordination between the various countries which have been called in to give aid to Ceylon? Have their duties been outlined?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeA very difficult question will arise soon about aid to Ceylon; as my hon. Friend knows, there was a great strain of the Ceylon economy even before this matter began. The International Bank has looked into this matter of the foreign countries which give aid. I will certainly see whether we can co-ordinate the effort.