Palau: Trusteeship (Hansard, 19 October 1989)

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, our policy is to see the trusteeship for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which includes Palau, terminated in accordance with the UN charter and the freely expressed wishes of the inhabitants of the trust territory.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Is he aware that the constitution of Palau, which was established in 1979 supported by 92 per cent. of the population, contains a nuclear-free clause and that this is the subject of considerable argument and has led to pressure from the United States which is the administering territory? Can he tell the House what is the British Government's attitude regarding the nuclear-free clause? Are they supporting the people of Palau in maintaining the clause when the compact with the United States is concluded and the trust territory can become self-governing?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, we believe that the policy I have stated is correct, given the fact that we are members both of the trusteeship council and of the Security Council. The trusteeship agreement can be terminated only by the United Nations Security Council. As a member both of the trusteeship council and the Security Council, we see it as being our duty to ensure that the proper procedures under the United Nations charter for terminating the agreement are followed.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, can the Minister say what progress is being made towards the termination of trusteeship so that the islands can have self-government? The noble Lord has said that the policy of Her Majesty's Government is that the Palaus should move towards independence. Can he also say what ecological damage Palau and the Micronesian islands have suffered as a result of nuclear testing?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, I cannot answer the noble Lord's second question without notice. However, with regard to his first question it may be helpful to the House if I set out the problem. In 1983 Palau chose to enter into a compact of free association with the United States. That would bring self-government to Palau, leaving responsibility for security and defence to the United States. The compact would permit the transit of nuclear material. However, the courts of Palau found that to be in conflict with the country's constitution which it had freely adopted in 1979. In order to resolve the dilemma various referenda have been held to enable the constitution to be amended and the compact implemented. However, none has yet attained the required 75 per cent. majority. The next referendum is likely to be held next year.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, perhaps a question which might have come from the distinguished judges sitting on the Cross-Benches might be put from here. Can the Minister tell us where Palau is?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, Palau is a group of islands in the south-west Pacific to the north of Indonesia.
1023 It has a population of 15,000. Its capital is Koror. Between the wars it was a mandated territory under the League of Nations administered by Japan. After the last war it became a United Nations trust territory and was administered by the United States of America together with what are now the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the northern Marianas.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, after that geography lesson perhaps I may return to the noble Lord's comment that the British Government are concerned about the resolution of the dilemma. Which dilemma is he talking about? Is it the dilemma between the inhabitants of Palau who wish to retain their nuclear-free constitution and the United States wish to change it? If so, where do the British Government stand? Are they supporting the people of Palau in maintaining their nuclear-free constitution, particularly in view of the fact that they have seen the effect on the neighbouring Marshall Islands of toxic waste in the sea and are suffering what appears to be the nuclearisation of the food chain in that area? Where do the British Government stand? Are they supporting the people of Palau? Or are they supporting the United States in trying to bring pressure to bear on the inhabitants of Palau to get rid of their freely-chosen nuclear-free status?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, the impediment to Palau attaining self-government is the incompatibility between its constitution and the compact of free association with the United States of America which it has freely chosen for itself. Finding a solution to that is a problem which the Palaun people are seeking to solve. I have every confidence that in time they will do so. Neither the United States nor anyone else is trying to impose anything either on Palau or on any other part of the trust territory against the wishes of the people.