HC Deb 09 July 1957 vol 573 c32W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will seek revision or abrogation of the agreement signed with the United States of America in August, 1940, under which, in return for 50 over-age destroyers, air and naval bases were leased for 99 years in British Caribbean territories, including prospective members of the sovereign West Indies Federation.

Mr. Ian Harvey

The purpose for which these areas were leased was, in the broadest sense, the defence of the Western Hemisphere. As long as the leased areas contribute to this end, Her Majesty's Government do not intend to seek abrogation of the Leased Bases Agreement, 1941. This does not, of course, preclude the possibility of seeking, by friendly agreement with the United States Government, changes in the terms of the Agreement or in the areas involved, as envisaged by the Agreement itself.