TNAG-0595-FCO40-742-Principles-and-procedures-of-granting-independence-1977 — Page 36

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of reasoning but the Department of Defence spokesman resisted, on the general grounds that the islands had been paid for and it would create a difficult precedent if they were simply handed back because Seychelles wanted them. It was consequently decided to exchange notes on the subject in which the national preferences of both sides would be stated and to discuss the subject again at the next round of talks in November.

21.

At the November taks in Washington, Mr O'Keeffe spoke along the general lines stated above, suggesting that the best approach was to give up the islands but, in deference to Department

of Defence objections, to ask in return for the maximum number

of concessions from Seychelles as a quid pro quo: the denial of military facilities in Seychelles proper to hostile powers; the

granting of a right for US and UK forces to use the three islands in the event of an emergency; and a commitment from Seychelles to the continuing full use of the US satellite tracking station on Mahé. The State Department once again proved receptive and the Department of Defence less resistant, perhaps because, in the interim, the US Administration had come under considerable pressure from Congress, the press and public opinion generally over the fate of the contract workers from Diego Garcia. The

latter had been evacuated from the island over a period until

1971 and a considerable number had gone to Mauritius which had agreed toresettle them using £650,000 provided by HMG (in part indirectly supplied by the US Government). Evidence that the money had not been so used and allegations that the islanders were now living in destitution in Mauritius appeared in the British and American press in September and October 1975 and resultant congressional pressure seemed for a while to threaten the proposed expansion of the military facilities on Diego Garcia. Mr O'Keeffe, who had visited Diego Garcia (and Gan where native Maldivians continued to reside) in October, said that, in his view, the evacuation had been unnecessary; and that the recent difficulties demonstrated the desirability of requiring only the essential minimum for defence

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