§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD SORENSENMy 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 on what basis the Government of Venezuela has made claims to territory in Guyana; what consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Guyana in respect of these claims; and whether any Guayanan citizens or political elements have expressed sympathy with the Venezuelan claims.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, Venezuela's present claim to Guyana territory is based on a contention, which in our view is not valid, that the award in 1899 by an international arbitration tribunal of the territory in question to Britain is null and void. The territory formed part of the Colony of British Guiana which became the independent sovereign State of Guyana in May, 1966. There has been, and still is, close consultation between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Guyana. The attitudes of Guyanese citizens and political elements towards the Venezuelan claim is a matter for the Guyana Government, but from the reports reaching us I believe that the Guyana Government enjoys the fullest support for its policy.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether it is not true that this demand on the part of the Venezuelan Government has been put forward many times over a number of years? As we have a very powerful case for resisting this demand, can the noble Lord say whether the Venezuelan Government is likely to persist in it, or whether there is any likelihood of a settlement being reached in the near future?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, we have, of course, made it clear to the Venezuelan Government that we are concerned about these actions on its part in connection with the territory of Guyana. The Venezuelan Government has expressed the hope that a settlement of the problem can be found through peaceful negotiation. This is also our aim and objective. I cannot, of course, say whether the Venezuelan Government will abandon these claims. I think it unlikely, but I hope that it will be possible to find a solution through peaceful negotiation.
§ LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGHMy Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that these claims by the Venezuelan Government were not made, since the last century, until mineral rights were discovered in the Western Province and independence was on the way? Would Her Majesty's Government bear in mind their experience in this case when they are discussing the future arrangements so far as British Honduras is concerned, and vis-à-vis Guatemala?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, the matters of British Honduras and Guatemala are, of course, outside the scope of this Question. On the first part of the noble Lord's question, I can only say that to go into details about the reasons for the Venezuelan claim at this time might not help us in the propects for a peaceful settlement. I think any kind of public polemics on either side is just what we want to avoid at the moment.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, the noble Lord talked about a settlement. Surely there can be no talk of a settlement until some reasonable claim is put forward and a case is made out before some international court or tribunal. Surely this has not been done at any time.
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, as I have said, the Venezuelan Government has made a claim to Guyana territory. I am not quite sure about the semantics of the word "settlement" in this respect. What I am meaning to convey, on behalf of the Government, is that I hope that we can resolve this problem by peaceful negotiation with the Venezuelan Government.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I only ask because the word "settlement" rather implies that there is some substantial claim. Surely we do not admit that.
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, if by use of the word "settlement" I appeared to prejudice or prejudge the issue, I apologise. Perhaps what I should have said is that we hope to resolve the issue by peaceful negotiations.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I hope that the noble Lord will forgive me if I ask a further question, which is of a factual nature. Can he say how much of the territory of Guyana is being claimed by Venezuela?
§ LORD CHALFONTYes, My Lords. The area under dispute is about 50,000 square miles, which is about five-eighths of the existing Guyana territory.