§ 90. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the Federal Government of South Arabia to his proposal to declare independence and withdraw all British forces next January, and to provide only seaborne protection for a limited period of six months thereafter.
§ Mr. George BrownI promised a full statement of Government policy and a debate thereon after the Recess. I am not prepared to go into details of our policy until that debate.
§ Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress he has made in securing the adhesion of the non-federated States of the Aden Protectorate to an enlarged State of South Arabia.
§ Mr. George BrownI regret that I have nothing yet to add to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State's reply to the right hon. Gentleman's Question of 2nd May.—[Vol. 746, c.41–2.]
§ Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been put to him by the Federal Government regarding their desire to reform the constitution of South Arabia; and what reply he has made to them.
§ Mr. George BrownI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to what I said during the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 20th March on this subject. I have nothing to add to this at present.—[Vol. 743, c. 1082.]
§ Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications regarding the date of independence for South Arabia and arrangements for British protection thereafter have been made to Ministers of the Federation of South Arabia since the 31W announcement of the appointment of the new High Commissioner; and on what dates were such communications made.
§ Mr. George BrownI promised a full statement of Government policy and a debate thereon after the Recess. I am not prepared to go into details of our policy until that debate.
§ Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the result of the further discussions between representatives of the British Government and of the Governments of the non-federated States of the Aden Protectorate; whether any of those states have specified the conditions on which they would be willing to join an enlarged South Arabian State; and whether any date has been agreed for their independence.
§ Mr. George BrownUnfortunately there has been little progress. The Answer to the second part of the Question is that no conditions have been specified. On the third part I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's reply of 2nd May.—[Vol. 746, c.42.]
§ Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what opportunity and time was given to the new High Commissioner in South Arabia to take up his post and to offer advice, regarding the date of independence for South Arabia and arrangements for British protection thereafter before any further communications on these questions were made to the Federal Government.
§ Mr. George BrownSir Humphrey Trevelyan had full consultation with me in London before going to Aden. I am not prepared at this stage to say what communications may recently have been made to the Federal Government.