§ Q4. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Australia on bases/staging posts in the British Indian Ocean territory.
§ Mr. MaudlingI have been asked to reply.
The Australian Government were informed about the proposed naval communications facility at Diego Garcia before the public announcement was made.
§ Mr. DalyellWhat has been the AngloAustralian reply to the view of the Indian and Ceylon Governments that the Indian Ocean should be demilitarised?
§ Mr. MaudlingI understand that the matter is being discussed at the conference in Singapore, and I cannot say anything about it at the moment. I gather that the proposal for this facility has been much welcomed in Australia.
§ Mr. CroninWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Soviet threat in the Indian Ocean is entirely a political one, not military, and, therefore, does not justify the Government's somewhat hysterical fears?
§ Mr. MaudlingI thought that the photographs which we saw in the newspapers recently were more of a naval than of a political character.