HL Deb 30 January 1978 vol 388 cc575-7

2.42 p.m.

Baroness ELLES

My 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 is the present position with regard to negotiations for the future independence of Belize.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, there were discussions with the Premier of Belize in London on 24th and 25th January. A copy of the joint Statement issued after the talks has been placed in the Library of the House. Further informal talks with the Guatemalans are envisaged in the near future to find a basis for continuing the negotiations.

Baroness ELLES

My Lords, while I thank the Minister for that reply, I wonder whether he could enlarge on one or two aspects of these negotiations. First, was any leverage used by Her Majesty's Government with regard to the withdrawal of the defence force from Belize in the event of Mr. Price and his Government not accepting a cession of territory to Guatemala? Secondly, will the Government confirm that the wishes of the people of Belize and the retention of their territorial integrity are overriding principles, beyond those of cession to Guatemala and the withdrawal of the defence force?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

. My Lords, I can give an unqualified assurance on both points. First, no such leverage was ever applied; and, secondly, there will be no settlement unless the people and Government of Belize accept it.

Baroness ELLES

. My Lords, following that, I wonder whether the Minister will allow me to put one more supplementary question. What kind of guarantees are envisaged by Her Majesty's Government if, by any chance, there should be a cession of territory to Guatemala in agreement with the people of Belize; and what role do the Government expect the United States to play in conjunction with the Organisation of American States?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, these conditions are looking very far ahead into a most hypothetical future. I think we should rest firmly on what my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said in the other place on 24th and 25th; that is, that any agreement which emerges from the continuing negotiations will first have to have the agreement of the people and Government of Belize; then we shall see.

Lord NORTHFIELD

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that no pressure will be put on the Government of Belize in regard to this matter? Does he agree that most people who have studied this matter and followed it over many years are certain that the Guatemalan case is, on the whole, flimsy, if not even less than flimsy?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I can confirm without reservation that no pressure will be placed in that way and for that purpose on the people and Government of Belize.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, in the meantime, will Her Majesty's Government consider stepping up economic aid to Belize as a token of our continuing commitment to the welfare of that colony?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Yes, indeed, my Lords. We have said that we do not by any means exclude the possibility of extending aid to enable both countries to co-operate, with mutual benefits one to the other, in the development of the area under dispute.