HC Deb 08 May 1969 vol 783 cc128-30W
Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the calibre and approximate age of the arms found and surrendered in Anguilla to the British authorities.

Mr. Whitlock

One .38 automatic, one .765 mm. pistol, one .22 pistol, one .38 revolver, and one 30–30 rifle, two .30 carbines—all believed to be of fairly recent manufacture. Four .303 rifles, four .22 rifles, one rifle of calibre not yet known—all believed to be several years old. Twenty-two shotguns—age unknown. One .5 anti-tank rifle—old but in excellent condition.

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the evidence for suspecting that the destruction by fire of Dr. Hyde's house on Anguilla on 8th March, 1968, was premeditated arson.

Mr. Whitlock

There are signs that the fire had started in the garage attached to the house or at a point outside the house. At the time, there was no car or petrol in the garage, nor was there any other reason to suppose that the fire could have been started accidentally or by spontaneous combustion. A person was arrested by the Anguillan régime in connection with the case but was later released because the so-called authorities considered that the evidence was in-insufficient to inculpate him.

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of those disreputable persons known to him to have been gathering round Mr. Webster on Anguilla prior to the landing of British forces.

Mr. Whitlock

I take it that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the armed group which forced me to leave the island on 11th March. I did not have the opportunity of learning their names.