Grenada Declaration for Political Union

HC Deb 02 December 1971 vol 827 cc174-5W

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude towards the Grenada Declaration for Political Union among certain Caribbean Associated States, where Great Britain has responsibility for their external affairs.

Mr. Kershaw

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the signatories of the Declaration of Grenada include the Government of Guyana as well as those of five of the six Associated States. Her Majesty's Government would of course welcome the emergence of any larger political entity that Commonwealth Caribbean countries might themselves wish to establish; but regard such a development as being entirely a matter for the governments and peoples concerned. It is open to any West Indies Associated State, under the West Indies Act, 1967, to withdraw from association with the United Kingdom.