HL Deb 12 June 1968 vol 293 cc139-43

2.40 p.m.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements have been made for the viability of the economy and defence of British Honduras after independence; and whether the Organisation of Central American States and the Caribbean Federation will, together with Mexico and the United States of America, co-operate in guaranteeing the future of British Honduras.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, these are matters which would naturally arise during any discussions prior to or during the conference on independence as and when it may take place.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that answer, may I ask whether he can give an assurance that the rejection of the mediator's efforts will in no way be an excuse for delaying independence? Secondly, in view of the length of time the report took to materialise, 893 days, and the long expected reactions of the parties, why was the date of independence not announced by the Minister when he announced the support of the Government for the parties in British Honduras?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, if I may say so, the noble Lord should do his homework in Commonwealth and colonial matters. He will know, or should know, that there has been no question of delay in the granting of independence to British Honduras. It is as and when the Government of British Honduras approaches Her Majesty's Government that a date will be decided.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that the reaction against the mediator's proposals among the people of British Honduras was so violent that the Governor, Sir John Ball, had to issue a proclamation restraining it? Are the Government yet able to give me a reply to a question which I asked several weeks ago, and to which I have not had an answer, as to whether the Guatemalans have ever made any attempt to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to them by Britain by the Treaty of April, 1962, which offered economic co-operation between Guatemala and British Honduras?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, in regard to the second part of the noble Earl's question, I think that that was a supplementary question which he asked, of which, frankly, I am not aware; but I will see that the information is conveyed to him. In regard to the mediator's report, one should recognise that this was a genuine effort by a very senior and respected American diplomat to find a solution to a problem which has been in existence for a long time and has been a considerable danger to both British Honduras and Guatemala. The fact that that report was not satisfactory to the people of British Honduras and to Guatemala must be taken as a matter for regret, though one appreciates the strong views felt in British Honduras on this subject.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, the noble Lord will agree that the Prime Minister, Mr. Price, who has tried to be moderate, is now being violently assailed by nearly everybody in British Honduras for "selling them down the river".

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the noble Earl himself is a moderate man, and he well knows that being a moderate man opens one to some very wild attacks.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the result of consideration by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs of the proposals for (a) a conference of Caribbean nations to prepare economic co-operation, including British Honduras; and (b) consultation with the Government of the United States of America regarding the security of British Honduras.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, discussions are continually being held between Commonwealth Caribbean countries, including British Honduras, on economic co-operation in the region. Regarding the security of British Honduras, I can assure my noble friend that Her Majesty's Government consult closely and continuously with the Government of the United States on all matters of mutual interest in the entire Caribbean area. The contents of these consultations are, however, confidential.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Does he remember that when I put these proposals before the Whitsun Recess the Minister in his Answer then said that they would be referred to the Commonwealth Ministers? The fact that the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont, has just entered the Chamber emphasises that these were regarded as constructive proposals. May I put two points? First, before independence, is there not a fear by the people of British Honduras that economic co-operation with Guatemala may lead to an anschluss if there is no change in the type of Government in Guatemala? Therefore, is it not urgent that every possible effort should be made to get co-operation between the ex-British Caribbean territories and Canada, and indeed Britain, to get it on an economic basis?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I recognise the point made by my noble friend, but he will be aware that economic discussions already take place. There is the Caribbean Free Trade Area, which arose out of a long conference, and also the new and imaginative project, the Caribbean Development Act, which again arose from discussions in that area. I am also aware, as I am sure is the noble Lord, that there is a good deal of movement and consultation between the leaders of the independent countries in the Caribbean, and this is to be welcomed. But in terms of Guatemala, I do not myself take the view—and I hope this is right—that British Honduras should fear any military attack from Guatemala.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, arising out of that answer, may I ask whether the proposed Caribbean Free Trade Area includes the former proposal for a Central American Free Trade Area consisting of the small States between Mexico and South America, to which British Honduras expressed her intention of wishing to adhere although not leaving the British Commonwealth; and can he say whether the proposed Caribbean Free Trade Area is quite separate from this or whether it will be combined with it?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, if my memory is right, they are separate. The Caribbean Free Trade Area is basically the countries of Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and what were the old British territories in that region. I do not think they include South America; I think that they have their own organisation.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEJGH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his remarks about my doing my homework, may I ask him whether he realises that Guatemala has recently produced a plan called How to Recover Belize, with the threat of doing it by force and what to do with the population there when they have done so?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am well aware that there are many plans circulating throughout the world as to how one country could take over another, or how one political Party could take over a State. I do not believe there is any validity in the fear at present of attack by Guatemala on British Honduras.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords may I mention the second part of my Question, which related to defence? Has the noble Lord seen the publication in a newspaper which is owned by the Vice-President of Guatemala, and does he not think that serious consideration must be given to it? Is there any way in which the defence of British Honduras can be assured, in view of the Monroe Doctrine, except by some agreement with the Government of the United States, and perhaps with the help of the Canadian Government?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, while British Honduras is a British Colony, the defence is our responsibility. What arrangements are to be made when British Honduras becomes independent is a matter that must come from our talks prior to independence, for whatever is arranged must be satisfactory to an independent country. Therefore, it would be wrong for us to try to lay down protections and guarantees until we are able to discuss and agree this with an independent Government.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, would my noble friend remember, with all respect to the Vice-President of Guatemala, that they have a habit of changing Governments about every six months?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for helping me in my homework.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, could my noble friend say whether in the agreement which we may reach on the independence of British Honduras, we will guarantee the defence of the country against Guatemala if they should attempt to take over that country?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, when we go to an independence conference there are two sides in it, and it would therefore be wrong for me to pre-suppose what a conference, might decide.