§ 3.1 p.m.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken in regard to the violation of British sovereignty in the Bahamas by the kidnapping of nineteen Cuban anti-Castro refugees by Cuban Government forces on the Island of Anguila Key on August 13 and what steps they are taking to prevent the recurrence of such military intrusions in the future.]
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government protested to the Cuban Government on August 21 about this incident. They requested from the Cuban Government an apology for the violation of British sovereignty, the return of the persons abducted by the Cuban forces and assurances that steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Cuban Government's reply was unsatisfactory, and a further Note was therefore sent to the Cuban Government on October 4 reinforcing the earlier protest and repeating the requests contained in it. A reply to this Note is still awaited. In the meantime British forces in the Bahamas have been strengthened with a view to deterring further incursions of this nature.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that this question has created the greatest indignation in the Bahamas Parliament, where more drastic action has been called for? Are Her Majesty's Government also aware that the Cuban Communist Government have recently fitted out some 200 fully armed so-called fishing trawlers, plying in the Caribbean on the Grand Bahama Bank and in the Old Bahama Channel and other strategic waters? Can orders be given to the Royal Navy to keep a very close eye on the activities of these so-called trawlers, and not to hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to prevent any further violation of British sovereignty or any further interference with British shipping?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I think I can assure my noble friend that Her Majesty's Government do not intend to tolerate the use of British territory for any illegal actions. But I think I should prefer to await the Cuban Government's reply before saying anything further.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, is the noble Lord the Leader of the House satisfied that Cuban rebels are not in fact using some of the outlying islands in the Bahamas as headquarters for attacks on Cuba itself? Is not that the sort of thing that this is leading to?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I repeat what I said in answer to my noble friend. The British Government do not intend to tolerate the use of British territory for any illegal purposes.