§ 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 at a time when the Malagasy Republic is currently passing through a transitional and unsettled period, and 711 bearing in mind the long standing friendship and historical ties between our two countries (e.g. the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce of 27th June 1865) and that country's present need of encouragement and attention, Her Majesty's Government will make a statement on the decision to close the British Embassy in Tananarive.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, the decision to close the British Embassy in Tananarive is a direct result of a reductions in public expenditure for 1976–77 announced by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget earlier this year. It has naturally been taken with great regret, particularly in view of the long-standing friendship between this country and Madagascar, to which the noble Lord has rightly referred.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for his reply, may I commend to him Article No. 1 of the 1865 Treaty. Does the Minister consider that the decision might be very ill-timed, as the new Head of State, Didier Ratsiraka came to power only last month, and as the country has at present serious social, political and economic problems, and as there could—and I say could—be increased Communist influence there? Would the Minister also consider that the financial saving might be less than the political loss, at a time when, in effect, Madagascar is seeking to strengthen its commercial relations and its cultural links with this country?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am bound to say that I have every sympathy with what the noble Lord has said. However, when a demand for economy is made as a matter of national policy my Department cannot expect to be exempt. We gave very careful consideration to this matter, and although this post has done useful work, we found that there was no alternative—if we were to meet the table of requirements included in the Budget speech in another place; namely, a 1½ per cent. reduction in our Departmental overseas expenditure—but to decide on closure of some post or posts. I very 712 much regret this, but it is inevitable in the climate of our time.
§ Baroness ELLESMy Lords, can the Minister say whether any of the other EEC Member-States will be retaining embassies in Madagascar and whether any arrangements will be made for our diplomatic links with Madagascar to be continued through these other Member-States?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I can give the assurance that a number of EEC Member-States will retain their posts in Tananarive. We shall, of course, be seeking to accredit from elsewhere appropriate representation to the capital of the Malagasy Republic and it is perfectly possible—in fact it is rather a good idea—that a fellow member of the Community might be consulted as to the possibility of taking this on.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I am not sure whether I ought to declare a personal interest, as my grandfather was one of the first Protestant missionaries in Madagascar in the last century. May I ask the Minister this. Would Her Majesty's Government consider at the earliest possible moment British representation in Madagascar, for two reasons? First, its presence might contribute to the fulfilment of democracy there, and, secondly, it lies between the ex-British colonies in East Africa and Mauritius and is tremendously important in that connection.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I most certainly will bear in mind what my noble friend has said. The second part of his supplementary is most apposite, and so is the first, in which he reminds us that missions of every kind are subject to fluctuation.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what he meant by "accredited elsewhere"? Does he envisage that one of our overseas representatives accredited to another Power will also be able to represent Her Majesty's Government in Madagascar? He is, of course, aware that this is done frequently by other countries. May I also ask him whether it would be appropriate or practicable for a High Commissioner to represent Her Majesty's Government, or must it be somebody accredited to a non-Commonwealth country?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am most grateful for the opportunity to be somewhat more precise on the subject of accreditation. As the noble Lord implies, multiple accreditation in this case, as in similar cases, would mean that we would empower another of Her Majesty's ambassadors to represent us from a point elsewhere. However, in answer to the interesting suggestion made by the noble Baroness, I thought I would say that in considering where this "elsewhere" should be, it might be interesting to talk it over with a member or members of the Community, because they, without naming any one of them, have interests in that region of the world. On the question of the High Commissioner, I think I know what the noble Lord has in mind. There is nothing to rule out the possible accreditation of a High Commissioner to represent us in Madagascar from elsewhere.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, while there may be some feeling in regard to the Government having to take this line in regard to Madagascar, the same feeling was also ventilated in regard to the Trucial States, when Her Majesty's Government had to take similar action, when we had to withdraw in regard to the defensive purposes and rights which we had held for so long in that part of the world?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, my noble friend is quite right and he has adduced an example of the way in which diplomatic requirements fluctuate at a time when, for reasons of economy, we are so reluctantly closing one or possibly more posts. At the same time, new demands are made on our diplomatic service—for instance, in Brussels—and in regard to almost permanent international conferences which call for ambassadorial or ambassadorial-level representation.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, may I ask the Minister two further questions? Would Her Majesty's Government consider asking our High Commissioner in Tanzania, Mr. Mervyn Brown, an ex-Ambassador to Madagascar who also speaks Malagasy, and who is liked by them and is very fond of them, to go over from Dar es Salaam to explain the position of Her Majesty's Government to them, which would be a friendly and good gesture? Secondly, can the Minister 714 say what other embassies are being closed? I understand that there are a total of eight.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the first point is certainly a helpful suggestion. On the second point, if the noble Lord would put down a separate Question, I shall answer it.