§ 2.35 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 whether any further reply has been received from the Cuba Government to the protest made by Her Majesty's Government to them on August 21, 1963, against the kidnapping of anti-Castro Cubans on Anguila Key on August 13 of that year, and, in particular, whether the nineteen persons then abducted by the Cuban forces from British soil have been handed back.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, no formal reply has been received, nor have the nineteen persons been handed back.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord opposite will recognise what a most unfortunate situation this is. We made this protest some two years ago and nothing whatever has happened. Is the noble Lord aware of the strong feelings of the Bahamas Government about this violation of their sovereignty? And may I ask whether, in view of the fact that nothing whatever has occurred—no apology, no undertaking to prevent a recurrence, and no handing back of the abducted persons—Her Majesty's Government will now consider bringing this matter before the International Court at The Hague, with a view to the return of the abducted persons and to the payment of suitable compensation to all concerned?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I fully share the noble Lord's concern over this matter, and in particular over the long delay that has taken place since protests were first made. But I would tell him that the matter is still being pursued energetically by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Havana and that it is, we understand, receiving the personal attention of the Prime Minister; and, because of that, rather than going through the more normal diplomatic channels, we feel that it is still right to await—though at the same time pressing for an answer—the final outcome. We have reason to believe that it may not be long delayed, though I should not like to be too optimistic in view of the delays and procrastinations which have occurred in the past.