HC Deb 18 July 1966 vol 732 cc4-5W
55 and 56. Sir T. Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) when, by whom, and with what reservations Her Majesty's Government assured the South Arabian Federal Government that they would honour the promises given in paragraph 38 of Command Paper No. 2414;

(2) when the Federation of the South Arabian Government was informed that Her Majesty's Government would not enter into any arrangement for the defence of South Arabia after independence; what explanation he gave for this decision; and what was the reaction to it.

Mr. Padley

The position regarding paragraph 38 of Command Paper No. 2414 was gone into at length in the course of the defence debates in this House and another place on 7th and 8th March and again in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's speech in the foreign affairs debate a week ago.

Her Majesty's Government's decision not to conclude a defence agreement after independence was conveyed to the Federal Government by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Commonwealth and Colonies in South Arabia on 17th February. In explanation, he mentioned the considerations stated subsequently by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in replying to a question by the noble Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Viscount Lambton) on 10th May.

58. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions have been taken since 23rd June at the recent talks about future cooperation with the Government of South Arabia.

Mr. Padley

There have not been any talks with the Government of the Federation of South Arabia since 23rd June, and no decisions have been taken since those announced by my right hon. Friend in reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 13th June.

73. Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a White Paper on the talks held between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the South Arabian Federation in June.

Mr. Padley

No. There is nothing to add to what I said in reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 13th June and in a joint communiqué issued on 14th June, copies of which are in the Library.