§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy 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 reply has been given to the request of the Banaban's Council of Leaders that their island should be permitted to become an Associated State of Fiji.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are still considering the request of the Banaban Council of Leaders for the independence of Ocean Island.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I thank the Minister? Would he agree that the Banabans are among the most unhappy victims of the industrialisation of nature? Would he confirm that they were exiled from their island to Rabi in the Fiji group when their island was devastated by phosphorus production; that they became slaves under the Japanese, when they showed extraordinary loyalty to the Western cause; and that they contributed from their meagre resources to the reconstruction of Plymouth and Portsmouth? The phosphorus production is likely to end in 1978, and many of these people wish to return to their island—many remaining in Rabi—and to be associated with Fiji, with which they have the happiest relations. Fiji is willing. Therefore would it not be desirable that Her Majesty's Government should agree to this proposal?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I would not dissent from what my noble friend says about what has been in many ways the unhappy history of this small island and this attractive community. We are engaged in discussions, which are necessarily somewhat prolonged, in trying to find a way out whereby the entity of these scattered islands—and it is a group of small communities which should not lend themselves unduly to fragmentation is maintained. The Banabans, and, in particular, Ocean Island, have a constitutional personality and the fullest possible autonomy within a large organisation. So far they have not acceded to proposals on these lines. However, the Chief Minister of the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony Government has put forward some helpful and generous proposals to this end, and we still hope that the Banaban Council of Leaders may take a favourable view of these excellent proposals. It may assist my noble friend who, I know, is very concerned about this kind of case—as we all are—if I place in the Library of the House a full report of the Chief Minister's latest proposals. It is rather lengthy to quote during these exchanges; but I think it might assist Parliament if I did that.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I thank the Minister? May I put another, I hope briefer, supplementary question? May I ask him constructively whether it would be desirable to have a conference of representatives of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and representatives of the Banabans with Great Britain to consider the whole problem? Is not that the constructive way to approach a solution?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we certainly would not rule out such a conference; indeed, we should welcome it. However, there is a certain reluctance on the part of those mentioned by my noble friend to consider such a conference; but I welcome the suggestion contained in his question. Speaking for my part, I should like to see a new conference which was as comprehensive of all the interests as possible.
§ Lord BROCKWAYBut, my Lords, have not Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, according to the report published 661 yesterday by Sir Bernard Braine, the distinguished Conservative member, and Mr. John Lee, the objective Labour member, indicated that they are ready to engage in such a conference, and that Australia and New Zealand are prepared to contribute towards the rehabilitation of Ocean Island?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the noble Lord may well be right in his interpretation of what has been said. Her Majesty's Government have to deal directly with those Governments and to confirm exactly what they are prepared to do.
§ Lord LEE of NEWTONMy Lords, quite apart from the outcome of the dispute with the Banabans, in view of the fact that Ocean Island will be bereft of phosphates in a few years, could my noble friend say whether arrangements are being made to help to finance the Governments themselves which rely heavily on the income from the phosphates that are sold to Australia?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, it is true that it is likely that the supply of phosphates in this island will run out in about three years. In any constructive negotiations that may take place, no doubt arrangements, as always in the case of Dependencies, will be discussed and, one would hope, agreed upon in order to assist successor States, whatever form they may take, to continue in the future. A good deal depends upon the readiness of all those concerned to come together to discuss something less than independence. Speaking from this Box, once more I should like to make an appeal. In an area like this, which is a very small area of small communities, the danger of continuing fragmentation, once it starts, is a real one and might lead to economic disaster.