Crucial Rome talks on Malta dispute

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 12

Crucial Rome talks on Malta dispute

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

BRUSSELS, January 19.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council yesterday agreed on a new offer, believed to be in the region of £l2m a year, for the continued use by Britain of Malta’s military facilities.

The terms of the offer will be put to the British Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Carrington) and the Maltese Prime Minister (Mr Mintoff) at their crucial Rome meeting today by the N.A.T.O. SecretaryGeneral (Mr Joseph Luns).

The figure is £2.5m higher

than the package offer originally drawn up by Britain and N.A.T.O. and rejected by Mr Mintoff, who has demanded £lBm a year.

The additional contribution comes from Britain’s partners in the alliance, mainly the United States and Italy, since she herself has firmly refused to increase her $5.25m share. Reliable sources in Brussels say that N.A.T.O. is posing two conditions for the

increased contribution: that the Soviet Union and her allies are barred from using the military facilities; but that they can be used by vessels from other N.A.T.O. nations. Two meetings in Valeria yesterday between senior British and Maltese officials paved the way for today’s crucial Rome talks. A Ministry of Defence delegation from London, led by the Assistant Secretary of State (Mr Peter England) conferred with a team led by the Maltese Administrative Secretary (Mr Alfred Wirth). Although no official statement was issued, the atmosphere of the talks was said to be cordial. Mr Mintoff’s colleagues at the Rome talks are expected to include the Deputy Advo-cate-General (Dr Edgar Mizzi) and the Secretary to tire Cabinet (Mr Joseph Camilleri). ...... t Despite the possibility of a settlement, the British forces on the Mediterranean island are continuing to pack and fly out, or load aboard ships, about 100 tons of equipment a day. “We have received no orders to stop the withdrawal,” a British military spokesman said. "Until we do, the withdrawal, will continue.” The British commando-car-rier Bulwark entered Grand Harbour yesterday to strengthen the withdrawal arrangements. Two naval tugs have also arrived, apparently to ensure serviced, to vessels in the harbour in case of any difficulty.