§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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 whether, and when, it is proposed that a Minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will make an official visit to the Malagasy Republic.]
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, we value our friendly relations with the Malagasy Republic and in principle we should welcome any opportunity for a Minister to visit Madagascar. But there are no plans for such a visit at the present time.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for his Answer. Is he aware that no Minister from the Foreign Office has visited the Malagasy Republic since that country achieved independence about ten years ago, and would he not agree that such a visit would be most desirable? May I ask him to believe that if he did go, he would be warmly received? I would also ask whether he is aware that many people there are conscious of the links which united our two countries during the last century and would like to see a renewal and development of co-operation between our two countries?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am honoured to think that if a Minister were to be sent to the Malagasy Repubic it should be myself. I can assure my noble friend that we are well aware of the strong links that exist between that country and the United Kingdom. Indeed, as I said in my original Answer, in principle we should welcome an opportunity for a Minister to visit the Malagasy Republic.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, would the noble Marquess bear in mind in this connection the comparative nearness of the Malagasy Republic to Mauritius, which is in the Commonwealth, and the great desirability of establishing friendly relations, so that the overpopulation in Mauritius might be relieved by the vast spaces in the Malagasy Republic?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think that that is a different point, but I will bear in mind what the noble Lord has said.