§ 3.42 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the reports that 80 people have died from starvation in Addu Atoll, Maldive Islands, are true; what the food situation in Addu Atoll is; whether Her Majesty's Government are sending food supplies there; and what is the present position in the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Maldivian Government on the question of the establishment and maintenance of an R.A.F. base and staging post on Gan Island.]
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, in Addu Atoll, in which Gan Island is situated, no reports have come to my notice of any difficulty over food. There have, however, been reports of people dying from starvation in Huvadu Atoll, some 153 eighty miles north of Addu. In one of these reports the number of deaths has been given as eighty. In others it has been lower. Arrangements are being made to enable Major Phillips, the Adviser on Maldivian Affairs to the Royal Air Force in Gan, and a doctor to visit Huvadu, but their report will not be available for some days. Meanwhile, in view of continuing reports of a very serious situation over a month or more, food has been sent to Huvaclu.
The negotiations with the Maldivian Government which have been proceeding in Colombo about the R.A.F. staging post at Gan have been suspended on the initiative of the Maldivian Delegation. The negotiations were on the basis of documents on which there had already been a substantial degree of agreement between us and the Maldivians. In the course of the negotiations the Maldivian representatives raised new matters of substance quite unrelated to the agreement concerning Gan. Although the United Kingdom side went as far as possible to meet them, this resulted only in the Maldivians producing further and unacceptable demands. We have informed the Maldivian Government that we remain prepared to discuss all outstanding matters and have expressed our willingness to resume negotiations at any time in Male or in Colombo or in London, if they so desire.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, the House, I am sure, will be pleased to know that the Secretary of State is calling for a report on the situation in the place that he mentioned, and also that (he is causing food to be sent there to relieve the alleged starvation. Has the Secretary of State's attention been drawn to the accusation of the Maldivian Government that the British Government have incited and encouraged discontent in the Gan Atoll and the two adjoining Atolls, and the allegation that Major Phillips, the British Advisory Officer, was responsible for this discontent?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I think the noble Lord will understand that communications are extremely difficult. There are 2,000 of these islands and they are very small. Some 200 are occupied and the people are apt to be living on the very margin of starvation. Where starvation is threatened in any particular island, the obligation really rests upon the Central Government of 154 Male to supplement the food supplies. That the Male Government would not do; therefore, as the noble Lord has said, we have sent a food ship, and I hope it will arrive in time with adequate supplies. I am aware that the Maldivian Delegation accused Major Phillips of trying to foment discontent in Gan Island and the Island of Huvadu. I would say at once that there is no connection between the island of Huvadu where the starvation is, and Gan Island, so Major Phillips could have had nothing whatever to do with that. In any case, I would repudiate absolutely the accusations made against him and say that the only thing that has happened as so often happens when British troops are around—is that the Royal Air Force have made friends with the local people on the islands and are getting on extremely well with them. That, I believe, will be a matter of satisfaction. I think we require patience in discussing this matter with the Maldivian Government, and that we shall arrive at a conclusion of our differences in time.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl a question? He said that talks have broken clown between the Maldivian Government and Her Majesty's Government. Are we to understand that work has ceased at the airfield, or is it progressing?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, everything is going on and progressing as planned, with perfect good will on the part of the local islanders.