§ 4.33 p.m.
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, with the permission of the House I desire to make a statement on the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance just signed between this country and Libya. Just over ten years after the liberation of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and the Fezzan during the Second World War, it is a great pleasure to inform the House of the signature yesterday at Benghazi of a Treaty and the related Military and Financial Agreements, between this country and the United Kingdom of Libya. The texts of these Instruments have to-day been laid before the House in a White Paper. Ever since His Majesty, King Idris (then Amir of Cyrenaica) became our ally in the recent war, the relationship between the two countries has been close, and it was during our administration of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania that Libyan independence was achieved at the end of 1951, in accordance with United Nations Resolutions.
1189 The Treaty provides that Libya will afford us military facilities, and that the United Kingdom will furnish financial assistance in order to help Libya to enjoy financial stability and orderly economic development. The military facilities are set out in a Military Agreement whereby we are permitted to station British armed forces in Libya under conditions agreeable to both parties. For our part, we have undertaken in the Financial Agreement to provide financial aid for twenty years, the period of all three Instruments, and have agreed to pay during each of the first five years £1million for economic development and £2,750,000 as assistance towards the Libyan Budget. A reassessment will take place at the end of each five-year period. Provision for the necessary funds will be made annually in the Foreign Office Grants and Services Estimate which will, of course, be subject to Parliamentary approval. Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the Treaty and Military and Financial Agreements after they have lain before the House for the customary period. Her Majesty's Government believe that this settlement will form a sound basis for continuing and fruitful collaboration between the two countries. It is an arrangement fully consonant with the independence of Libya, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and, as I firmly believe, a contribution to the peace and security of the area.