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ANNEX C
Background Note
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
The British Indian Ocean Territory was set up under an Order in Council in November 1965, by separating the islands of Aldabra, Desroches and Farquhar from Seychelles, and the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, from Mauritius.
2.
The population is essentially a migratory labour force from Mauritius and Seychelles who come and go in accordance with the requirements of the copra plantations. At times it reaches 1,500.
3.
At the time of separation it was announced that the islands would be available for the construction of defence facilities by the British and U.S. Governments and that appropriate
The compensation would be paid to Seychelles and Mauritius. Mauritius Government accepted £3 million compensation; in the case of Seychelles (which is now accessible only by sea) a civil airfield was to be provided by way of compensation to connect the Colony to the mainland of Africa and India.
4. In April, 1967 Ministry of Defence representatives negotiated the purchase of the freeholds of Chagos, Farquhar and Desroches for sums totalling £1,013,200 and the islands were leased back to the former owners, subject to termination of leases at six months' notice. The freehold of Aldabra is held by the Crown and the island was already leased.
5. The total cost of establishing the British Indian Ocean Territory (including buying out the landowners and resettling labour which will be displaced as islands are taken for defence use) was estimated at £10m.
6.
On 25 April 1967 an agreement between the British and United States Governments (signed on 30 December 1966), was published. This published agreement sets out the arrangements under which defence facilities might be constructed and used by either government.
7。 Following a survey of Aldabra in 1966 Ministers agreed in principle, subject to United States financial participation, to the construction there of a 'staging' airfield and associated facilities (estimated to cost £28 million) The Royal Society in this country, and in the United States the Smithsonian Institute, were bitterly opposed to the use of Aldabra for defence purposes, since they believed that the unique ecosystem (which includes giant tortoises and many rare and some unique flora and fauna species) would suffer. Plans to develop Aldabra were however abandoned as an economy measure in November, 1967.
8. A U.S./U.K. survey of Diego Garcia at the eastern end of B.1.0.T. was completed in August 1967. The Americans have now informed us that they wish to develop an "austere naval facility" including a refuelling facility and associated airstrip on the island. They will finance the entire construction. Britain will
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