§ Baroness LEE of ASHERIDGEMy 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 justification can be given for increasing tensions in the Indian Ocean by leasing Diego Garcia to the United States of America and why the British public have been kept in ignorance of both the manner and extent of this transaction.
5§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, Diego Garcia has not been leased to the United States Government. The status of the island and the scope of the communications facility there are clearly defined in the British India Ocean Territory Agreement in 1966 and the Diego Garcia Agreement of 1972, both of which were published at the time.
§ Baroness LEE of ASHERIDGEMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, that being so, there is an even stronger obligation on our own Government to make sure that détente is a reality in the Indian Ocean? Could my noble friend tell me whether, before the local inhabitants were forcibly removed from the island in 1971, any British or Anglo-American approach was made to the Soviet Union, making proposals that would lead to a lessening of each of their defensive preparations in the Indian Ocean?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, without notice, I cannot recall what diplomatic approaches at these levels were made in the years preceding 1965, but I quite agree that this is an important point. On the first point, the need for détente in the Indian Ocean, we strongly support the Australian proposal that a first and very big step for the creation of a free zone in this ocean would be if the two super-Powers were to agree to a diminution of their presence in the area. We think this is the best way to go about it. I repeat, we strongly support the Australian initiative on this matter.
My Lords, as to the second point raised by my noble friend, I must repeat that the inhabitants of Diego Garcia and the other islands involved were not forcibly removed. They left, a few of them reluctantly; but the very great majority of them saw that their future lay outside Diego Garcia and the islands. I agree with my noble friend that the very generous donation which we made soon after their movement to other islands should by now have been put to more effective use. Therefore, we very greatly welcome the invitation to us from the Mauritian Government to follow up our generous donation with an equally generous provision of expertise, in order 6 to devise an acceptable scheme of settlement for these islanders.
§ Lord CARRINGTONMy Lords, would the noble Lord the Minister accept that there must be many people on both sides of the House who think that in the present circumstances the American presence, or, indeed, the British presence, in the Indian Ocean does not lead to tension, but rather to reassurance?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, there must be many people who have that opinion. There must be many people who know—it is a matter of public knowledge—that there are substantial naval installations, including nuclear storage facilities, in various parts of the littoral of this ocean; but I will not follow that point at the moment. We are all anxious that there should be effective détente; but détente, like disarmament, cannot be a one-sided affair.
§ Baroness LEE of ASHERIDGEMy Lords, may I take it from the reply of my noble friend the Minister that if some of the inhabitants had chosen to remain on the island, they would still have been allowed to do so?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSNo, my Lords, I am afraid not. The purpose of setting up the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965, with the agreement of the Seychelles and the Mauritius Government, was to create a facility for general Anglo-American defence. Consequently, it was understood at the time and, indeed, it was public knowlege at the time, that there would need to be removal and rehabilitation of the islanders. A great many of them saw their immediate and long-term future in such a movement. The nub of the question we are discussing is that a resettlement scheme has not yet been effectively devised. I am quite sure that then, as now, the overwhelming majority of the islanders would prefer a more settled, a more assured, economic existence outside those rather impoverished islands.
§ Baroness LEE of ASHERIDGEMy Lords, may I say that I have no more desire than, I think, any other Member of this House, to see Soviet domination of the Indian Ocean. But would my noble friend the Minister agree that a 7 little more diplomacy, a little more consultation with the general public about what is going on, would be helpful? Is it not rather playing with words to say that the local inhabitants were not forced to leave the island, and then to say that none of the local inhabitants was allowed to remain?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do my best. My noble friend Lady Lee of Asheridge perhaps has a better command of the English language than I. But looking at the facts objectively, this is a collection of islands which for many years has not had anything like a settled community life, let alone an assured economic existence for the hundreds of people who have migrated there, for the most part as contract labour. It is no new fact in the history of these islands that they should be practically depopulated from time to time. I repeat that the real purpose of the policy of Her Majesty's Government is to see that these unfortunate people are given proper rehabilitation. The money is there, and now the expertise from Britain is available. I entirely accept the assurance of my noble friend that, of course, in the broad interests of humanity, she is in favour of détente, and not in favour of one super-Power or another.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, in view of the exchange we had on this subject last week and the interest now shown, and also the disturbing statements made in Washington since our last discussion, may I ask whether, in the new Session, Her Majesty's Government will facilitate an early debate on this issue, which cannot be discussed by Questions?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, of course it is for the House to indicate whether it wants an extended debate on a subject which, I think, has been fairly exhaustively examined in the last few weeks. I have a copy of the report which the American Administration has made available to Congress. Quite frankly, I cannot see that that report bears the construction placed upon it in certain publications in this country, or in certain ejaculations made by certain American senators.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy Lords, can the noble Lord say what his information is 8 with regard to the possible establishment of a Soviet base on the island of Socotra?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSNot without notice, my Lords; and I am not sure even then.