§ Mr. Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will make a statement on the future of Great Britain's relations with the Maldive Islands.
§ Mr. SandysWhen I visited Male last September, the Maldivian Prime Minister expressed the desire that the Agreement of 1960 between his Government and the British Government should be revised, so as to enable the Maldive Islands to become a fully independent, sovereign State, on the understanding that the rights and facilities enjoyed at50W present by the British Government in Addu Atoll would be confirmed and that no military rights and facilities would be accorded in the Maldives to any other country.
The British Government have informed the Government of the Maldive Islands that they are willing to revise the Agreement on the lines proposed. Detailed negotiations are now proceeding.