(No. 2) The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Norwegian Ambassador, 28th September, 1964 Your Excellency, I have the honour to refer to Your Excellency's Note of to-day's date, addressed to me on the occasion of the signing of the Agreement between the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway for the Continuance of Fishing by Norwegian Vessels within the Fishery Limits of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In reply I confirm to Your Excellency that it was also the understanding of the United Kingdom delegation to the fishery negotiations that this Agreement should not in any way be taken to form the basis of any claim on the part of the United Kingdom Government for the continuance beyond the 31st of October, 1970, of the fishing carried on by United Kingdom vessels in the Norwegian fishery zone. I have the honour, &c. R. A. BUTLER. (No. 3) The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Norwegian Ambassador, 28th September, 1964 Your Excellency, In connection with the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway for the Continuance of Fishing by Norwegian vessels within the Fishery Limits of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed at London to-day, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that in the interim period before the entry into force of the Agreement, Her Majesty's Government will raise no objection if fishing vessels registered in the Kingdom of Norway continue to fish for dogfish or basking sharks in the areas described in Articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement. I have the honour, &c. R. A. BUTLER. (No. 4)---The Norwegian Ambassador to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 28th September, 1964 Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of September 28th, 1964, as follows: [As in No. 3] I have the honour, &c. ARNE SKAUG. AGREEMENTS between the United Kingdom and South Africa on the Defence of the Sea Routes round Southern Africa and the Transfer of the Simonstown Naval Base, with Annexes and Exchange of Letters.-London, 30th June, 1955(1) The Honourable F. C. Erasmus, Minister of Defence of the Union of South Africa, visited the United Kingdom from 15th to 30th June, 1955, for further discussions with Ministers of the United Kingdom Government. These resulted in exchanges of letters embodying agreements and understandings satisfactory to both Governments on the following subjects:— I-The need for international discussions with regard to regional defence against external aggression. II- The defence of the sea routes round Southern Africa. III-Transfer of the Simonstown Naval Base and arrangements for its future use. These exchanges of letters are set out below. I.-THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARD TO REGIONAL DEFENCE AGAINST EXTERNAL AGGRESSION (No. 1)-Letter from the Minister of Defence, Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, to the South African Minister of Defence, Mr. Erasmus, 30th June, 1955 Ministry of Defence, Dear Mr. Erasmus, I enclose a Memorandum setting out the terms of our Understanding on the need for international discussions with regard to Regional Defence. (1) Cmd. 9520. I shall be glad if you will confirm that it represents what was agreed between us. Yours sincerely, SELWYN LLOYD. The Honourable F. C. Erasmus, M.P. MEMORANDUM ON THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARD TO REGIONAL DEFENCE 1. Southern Africa and the sea routes round Southern Africa must be secured against aggression from without. 2. The internal security of the countries of Southern Africa must, however, remain a matter for each individual country concerned. 3. The defence of Southern Africa against external aggression lies not only in Africa but also in the gateways to Africa, namely in the Middle East. It is therefore the declared policy (a) of the United Kingdom to contribute forces for the defence of Africa, including Southern Africa, and the Middle East; (b) of the Union Government to contribute forces in order to keep the potential enemy as far as possible from the borders of South Africa, in other words for the defence of Southern Africa, Africa and the Middle East gateways to Africa. While the Union's contribution will depend upon satisfactory arrangements being arrived at between the countries mainly concerned as to the nature and extent of the contribution which each will make, the Union Government is in the meantime building up a task force for use outside South Africa against external aggression. 4. In order to implement the above policies, the lines of communication and logistic support in and around Southern Africa must be adequate and securely defended. 5. In this connection the arrangements set out in a separate agreement for the defence of the sea routes round Southern Africa are of primary importance. 6. The adequacy and security of logistic facilities and communications within Southern Africa, and particularly along the lines of communication to the Middle East are matters which should be further considered. 7. To this end it is agreed that the United Kingdom and South Africa will jointly sponsor a conference to integrate forward and develop the planning already begun at the Nairobi Conference. 8. This would cover the technical adequacy of routes, railways, inland waterways, airfields and seaplane bases, radar facilities for screening, sea transport facilities, telecommunications and mails facilities and arrangements for their defence in the event of external aggression. 9. It would also cover base facilities, e.g., storage and stockpiling arrangements, repair facilities, etc., on the lines of communication through and around Southern Africa. 10. It is agreed that the United Kingdom and the Union will jointly endeavour, at this conference, to secure the setting up of suitable machinery to pursue the aims of the conference on a continuing basis. (No. 2)—Letter from Mr. Erasmus to Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, 30th June, 1955 South Africa House, Dear Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, Thank you for your letter of 30th June, 1955, enclosing a Memorandum setting out the terms of our Understanding on the need for international discussions with regard to Regional Defence. I am glad to confirm that this represents what was agreed between us. Yours sincerely, F. C. ERASMUS. The Right Honourable Selwyn Lloyd, C.B.E., T.D., Q.C., M.P. II. THE DEFENCE OF THE SEA ROUTES (No. 3)-Letter from Mr. Selwyn Lloyd to Mr. Erasmus, London, 30th June, 1955 Sir, I have the honour to refer to our recent discussions in London concerning the defence of the sea routes round Southern Africa and to set out the terms of the agreement which we have reached. AGREEMENT ON DEFENCE OF THE SEA ROUTES 1. Recognising the importance of sea communications to the well-being of their respective countries in peace and to their common security in the event of aggression, the Governments of the Union of South Africa and of the United Kingdom enter into the following Agreement to ensure the safety, by the joint operations of their respective maritime forces, of the sea routes round Southern Africa. 2. The Union Government have approved a programme for the expansion of the South African Navy. The programme will be spread over a period of eight years from 1955 to 1963, and will involve the purchase of the following vessels, which will be added to the existing fleet: 6 Anti-submarine Frigates. 10 Coastal Minesweepers. 4 Seaward Defence Boats. 3. The Union Government will place firm orders in the United Kingdom for the purchase of these vessels, costing some £18M. The British Admiralty agree to act as agents for the Union Government in this matter. 4. After the control and administration of the Simonstown Naval Base are handed over to the Union Government in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement relating to that subject, the Royal Naval Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, will continue to fly the flag to which he is entitled by Royal Naval regulations in the Cape area outside Simonstown and to exercise command over any Royal Naval units in the Union. 5. He will also be designated for purposes of planning and operational command in war as Commander-in-Chief of a maritime strategic zone, the boundaries of which will approximate to those of the Royal Naval South Atlantic Station, and will include the Mozambique Channel. It will, however, exclude waters further north which fall within the responsibility of the Royal Naval Commander-in-Chief, East Indies. These boundaries will be subject to adjustment by agreement in the light of changing strategic considerations. |