§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has received from the President of the House of Representatives of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, praying for the separation of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from the Western Pacific High Commission; what reply has been sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GodberThe Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony has sent to my right hon. Friend the text of a Motion passed without dissent by the House of Representatives on 27th November, 1970, praying for the separation of the Colony from the Western Pacific High Commission.
We had already been considering in consultation with the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific and the Resident Commissioner whether the association of the Colony with the High Commission was still appropriate in view of constitutional and administrative progress in the Colony. We have decided that it would now be in the interests of the Colony to separate it from the High Commission. The necessary administrative and legal changes are under consideration and will be implemented in due course.