MALTA: BRITAIN ADAMANT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 13

MALTA: BRITAIN ADAMANT

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

VALETTA (Malta), December 30.

The Labour Prime Minister of Malta (Mr Mintoff) last night narrowly survived an Opposition motion of no-confidence after Britain’s shock announcement that she was making preparations to withdraw all her 3500 soldiers, sailors and airmen from the island.

Mr Minto i.’ survived by only one vote—the Government’s majority —a motion of noconfidence in his handling of the crisis with Britain over payment for military facilities on the island.

The voting figure was 28 to 27.

Britain said yesterday that she was preparing to withdraw all forces from Malta, which for a century and a half has been the base of Britain’s Mediterranean naval power, rather than pay extra money demanded by Mr Mintoff. The decision was announced by the British Foreign and Commonwealth- • Office after the breakdown of ! British-Maltese negotiations, land after agreement in principle, between Malta and the Soviet Union on a new trade and commercial pact. ;

Jobs will go Britain’s fighting forces on the Mediterranean island include a Royal Marines commando group of about 1000 men, with support units, two Royal Air Force squadrons, and a Royal Navy headquarters. With them are about 7000 dependants. « A British withdrawal would immediately throw out of work 5000 civilians workers, and about 9000 would eventually be affected. Diplomatic observers in London note that the Government’s decision involves only preparations for a withdrawal: this could be countermanded if Mr Mintoff showed signs of resuming negotiations.

Last September, Mr Mintoff and the British Prime Minister (Mr Heath) agreed in principle on a British payment of £4.75m for a sixmonth period from September 30, pending a new agreement.

I But on December 24, Mr iMintoff demanded an extra £4.25m declaring that British ; forces could not remain on I Malta after December 31, unless this money was paid.

Britain quickly repeated an offer to send the Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Carrington) to the Island for negotiations on a new defence agreement if the demand was withdrawn, but yesterday the Maltese leader rejected the talks offer and repeated his demand for more money. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement, in response, said:. “In these circumstances, the British Government is setting in hand preparations for the withdrawal of British forces from Malta.”

‘Not bluffing’

The Opposition’s spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Denis Healey, who was Minister of Defence in the last Labour Government, said last night that he did not think !Mr Heath and his Cabinet were bluffing. “This has gone on long enough,” he said. “Britain is, rightly, not offering any

more. And that, I think, is I that.” Mr Healey added that hei did not believe Mr Mintoff would allow his island to be used as a Russian base, although the Russians would find Malta valuable; at present, the Soviet Union’s expanding Mediterranean fleet had no air cover. This is the crux of the Malta issue. The island plugs the narrow waist of the Mediterranean between Italy and North Africa, and was described in the Second World War by Sir Win a Churchill as “an unsinkable aircraft-carrier.” The Russian Naval Air Force would welcome Malta’s Luqa airfield as an alternative to aircraft-carriers it does not have. Carriers are believed a key to the effectiveness of the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

By increasing her influence in Arab countries, the Soviet Union has gradually forged a

chain of air bases in North Africa. Malta could be another link.

British officials think that Mr Mintoff’s moves towards a trade deal with the Russians were part of a pressureplay on Britain and her N.A.T.O allies, implying the eventual prospect of a Soviet Union foothold on the island.

Value questioned Britain and her N.A.T.O. allies have been concerned about the build-up of Russian naval strength in the Mediterranean, but they question the strategic value in any future war that is placed on the island by Mr Mintoff. Mr Mintoff’s Labour Government wanted about £lBm a year for the use of the bases.

The British offer, in agreement with N.A.T.0., was for nearly £lom a year.

On top of this, Malta's revenue was boosted by about £l3m a year by the spending of the British forces and their families.

I Malta was also expected to negotiate bilateral economic aid from some of the N.A.T.O. allies.