Malta visit cancelled

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 9

Malta visit cancelled

(N Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) VALEITA, July 15.

Malta has taxed the British Foreign Office with issuing a “completely unfounded” statement about the last-minute cancellation yesterday of the visit of the Secretary of Defence (Lord Carrington) to the island.

The Maltese Government said in a statement late last night that British Prime Minister (Mr Heath) had insisted

on sending Lord Carrington “merely to explore the possibility of starting negotiations with the Maltese Government.” It said that Mr Heath had been told on Tuesday night that Lord Carrington’s visit would not be fruitful unless he came with the intention of negotiating. The Maltese Government had sent a message yesterday to Mr Heath conveying the hope it “would be saved the embarrassment of having to ignore the presence of a British Cabinet Minister on the island," the statement said.

Despite this message, the Maltese Government said it

was surprised to learn yesterday that Mr Heath had asked Lord Carrington to go to Malta “merely to ascertain whether it was possible to negotiate a fresh arrangement.”

In London, the Foreign Office said after Lord Carrington had cancelled his visit that the Maltese Government had raised further questions about the basis of Lord Carrington’s discussions on revising the defence agreement between the countries. Lord Carrington was already aboard his Royal Air Force jet when he was informed that a message had been received from Malta’s new Prime Minister (Mr Dom Mintoff). The Foreign Office said that the British Government had great difficulty in agreeing with Mr Mintoff on the basis for Lord Carrington’s discussions on the Maltese Government’s proposals for revision of the 10-year defence and financial agreement. Lord Carrington had postponed his departure, and a message had been sent to Malta in reply, a spokesman said. '