MAURITIUS INDEPENDENCE BILL (Hansard, 20 February 1968)

§ LORD SORENSEN
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

LORD FARINGDON
My Lords, I apologise to your Lordships and can only claim that you do not often have to listen to me, and I beg you to make that an excuse for listening to me yet a third time to-day. I have been brief on the previous occasions and I will be on this, but I feel I cannot let this occasion pass without a word, as I have for many years had the privilege and pleasure of the friendship of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
I think Mauritius is extremely fortunate in having Sir Seewoosagur as its Prime Minister. He has shown immense patience and skill in negotiating with Her Majesty's Government. I know that this Bill goes forward with the support—and indeed the enthusiastic support—of all Members of both places in this Parliament. Sir Seewoosagur is particularly conscious of the great difficulties—and do not let us minimise them—which face the newly formed State. Its two greatest troubles are those with which the Prime Minister has done his best to deal in the past and will deal in the future—that is to say, over-population and racialism. It seems a curious thing to say, but I think the recent troubles in Mauritius have shown in a most 323 encouraging way the non-racial attitude not only of the Prime Minister but also of the Leader of the Opposition, Monsieur Duval. Both those politicians have shown themselves, if I may put it this way, to be statesmen, and I think Mauritius is lucky in having them to guide her future career. I said I would not detain your Lordships, but I feel this tribute ought to be paid by those who have had the privilege of the acquaintance of the Prime Minister of Mauritius and who have, as I have, the greatest admiration for him.

§ LORD OGMORE
My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Faringdon, has opened a discussion on the Third Reading of this Bill, my noble friends and I feel it is only right that we on these Benches should express our best wishes to Mauritius for a happy and successful future. There has been a long association between Mauritius and ourselves and we feel it is only right that all Parties in the House, and those who sit on the Cross Benches, should express their good wishes at this time.
There are two matters which I feel the Government should consider carefully in their future relationship with Mauritius. The first is that Mauritius depends on us to a large extent for her economic well-being. The Commonwealth Sugar Agreement is of vital importance to her, and undoubtedly in the past it has meant a great deal for the Mauritian economy. As Mauritius virtually has a one-crop economy this Agreement is of tremendous importance, and I hope that in future, as she will now be an independent member of the Commonwealth, instead of being a Colony, the good will of the British Government, whatever Party happens to constitute it, will be afforded to the island.
The second point is that undoubtedly in some way we shall be responsible for the defence of Mauritius. At the present moment I gather we have a battalion of troops there—the King's Shropshire Light Infantry—owing to the internal difficulties which have happened there in the last few months, and I believe it is proposed that those troops should remain there for some time—how long a period, I do not know. There may, of course, be aggres- 324 sion from outside, as well as internal difficulties. I think this points to the conclusion that some of us have long come to: that the British Government's policy in reducing the Regiments of the Line is a fantastically stupid one. This is not a defence debate and I will not pursue the matter at any length, but it adds one more example to the claim that I and others have put to this Government, that to spend vast sums on Polaris submarines and their equipment, to continue the nuclear (so-called) independent weapon and to cut down the conventional forces, particularly the British infantry, which it will be impossible to replace when once they are gone, is a policy which cannot but be detrimental to the country.
I would therefore ask the Government once more to look again at this policy and not to cut down the Regiments of the Line, because not only do we need them here in this country but we shall need them in Mauritius and elsewhere; it is quite obvious to-day that law and order could not be maintained in Hong Kong or in Mauritius and various other parts of the world if it were not for the British Regiments of the Line. In those circumstances I repeat my request to Her Majesty's Government to save our old regiments. These are two of the matters which I think arise on this Third Reading. I have no other matters to raise at this time, and therefore I would conclude by once more wishing Mauritius every possible success in the future.

§ LORD SORENSEN
My Lords, I am sure that all Members of this House appreciate the good wishes that have been expressed by the two noble Lords to supplement those that were expressed on the previous occasion, and I am sure, equally, that the people of the new independent country of Mauritius will appreciate the sage remarks made by both noble Lords. As for the reference to the Regiments of the Line, I am utterly incompetent to deal with that matter, but I will certainly see that it is passed to the appropriate quarter. My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.