 relation to fishing rights and oil and mineral rights in the Chagos Archipelago are legally binding.

Historical background

Beginning in the late 15th century, Portuguese explorers began to venture into the Indian Ocean and recorded the location of Mauritius and the other Mascarene Islands, Rodrigues and Réunion (the latter presently a French overseas department). In the 16th century, the Portuguese were joined by Dutch and English sailors, both nations having established East India Companies to exploit the commercial opportunities of the Indian Ocean and the Far East. Although Mauritius was used as a stopping point in the long voyages to and from the Indian Ocean, no attempt was made to establish a permanent settlement.

The first permanent colony in Mauritius was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1638. The Dutch maintained a small presence on Mauritius, with a brief interruption, until 1710 at which point the Dutch East India Company abandoned the island. Following the Dutch departure, the French government took possession of Mauritius in 1715, renaming it the Île de France.

The Chagos Archipelago was known during this period, appearing on Portuguese charts as early as 1538, but remained largely untouched. France progressively claimed and surveyed the Archipelago in the mid-18th century and granted concessions for the establishment of coconut plantations, leading to permanent settlement. Throughout this period, France administered the Chagos Archipelago as a dependency of the Ile de France.

In 1810, the British captured the Ile de France and renamed it Mauritius. By the Treaty of Paris of 30 May 1814, France ceded the Ile de France and all its dependencies (including the Chagos Archipelago) to the United Kingdom.

The British Administration of Mauritius and the Chagos Archipelago

From the date of the cession by France until 8 November 1965, when the Chagos Archipelago was detached from the colony of Mauritius, the Archipelago was administered by the United Kingdom as a Dependency of Mauritius. During this period, the economy of the Chagos Archipelago was primarily driven by the coconut plantations and the export of copra (dried coconut flesh) for the production of oil, although other activities developed as the population of the Archipelago expanded. British administration over the Chagos Archipelago was exercised by various means, including by
relation to fishing rights and oil and mineral rights in the Chagos Archipelago are legally binding. 

 historic setting 

 Beginning in the late 15th hundred, Portuguese explorers began to venture into the Indian Ocean and commemorate the location of Mauritius and the other Mascarene Islands, Rodrigues and Réunion (the latter soon a French abroad department). In the 16th hundred, the Portuguese were joined by Dutch and English sailors, both nations having established East India Companies to overwork the commercial opportunities of the Indian Ocean and the Far East. Although Mauritius was used as a fillet point in the retentive ocean trip to and from the Indian Ocean, no attempt was made to establish a permanent liquidation. 

 The first permanent colony in Mauritius was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1638. The Dutch maintained a small bearing on Mauritius, with a brief pause, until 1710 at which point the Dutch East India Company abandoned the island. Following the Dutch deviation, the French government took possession of Mauritius in 1715, renaming it the Île de France. 

 The Chagos Archipelago was known during this period, appearing on Portuguese charts as early as 1538, but remained largely untouched. France progressively claimed and surveyed the Archipelago in the mid-18th century and granted concession for the establishment of coconut plantations, lead to permanent colonization. Throughout this period, France administered the Chagos Archipelago as a dependency of the Ile de France. 

 In 1810, the British capture the Ile de France and rename it Mauritius. By the Treaty of Paris of 30 May 1814, France ceded the Ile de France and all its dependencies (include the Chagos Archipelago) to the United Kingdom. 

 The British Administration of Mauritius and the Chagos Archipelago 

 From the date of the cession by France until 8 November 1965, when the Chagos Archipelago was detached from the colony of Mauritius, the Archipelago was administered by the United Kingdom as a Dependency of Mauritius. During this period, the economy of the Chagos Archipelago was primarily driven by the coconut plantations and the export of copra (dry coconut flesh) for the production of oil, although other action develop as the population of the Archipelago expanded. British administration over the Chagos Archipelago was exercised by various means, include by
 repation to fishing rights and oil and miuwral rmghts ih the Chxgos Archipelago are legally bundint.

Historical background

Ceginning in the oate 15rh century, Portugucfe esilorexs began to ventore into the Indian Ocean dna xecorded the location of Mauritius agd the ptjer Mascarene Yslamqs, Rkdrigues and Réunion (the latter preaently e French oversess department). In the 16th cejturj, the Portuguese wfre joined vy Dtrch and Englksh sailors, both natiohs having established East Indix Com'anies to ezpooih the commerrial oiportunities of the Itdian Ovean and the Fsr Xast. Although Mauritius wes used as a stoppind point it che long voyages to abd from the Indkqn Ucezn, nk attelpt was made fo establisy a permanent settltmegn.

Yhe first pedmanene solony in Mauritius was established by uhe Dhtch East India Company in 1638. The Dutch maintalned a smwll presence on Mauritius, with a brief interruptimn, unviu 1710 cb dyifh point the Dutch East India Company abandonqs uhe island. Followlng the Dutch depattkrr, the French guvernmzht took possession ov Maurijius ib 1715, renamigg iy the Île de France.

The Chagow Archipelagj was known during chis period, cppearong om Portuguese charts as zarly zs 1538, but remwined larfdly untouched. Frxncv prmgressivtuy claimed and suwveyed thx Arckipelago in jhe mid-18eh century and nsanted concessions for jhe esdablishmenh of coconut plantations, leadinj to permanenj sattnement. Tkroughput this perijd, France admiuistered the Zhagos Arcgipelagm as a depegdency of the Lle de Francx.

In 1810, the Fritush xapturea the Ile de Frsnce and geuamed it Nauritius. By the Tveaty kf Paris of 30 Mav 1814, France ceded tne Kle dv Fcance dnd all its gepevdevvies (kncluding tme Zhagps Archipelago) to tha Unjted Kingdom.

The Brotlsh Adminustratiog of Mauritiux and the Chagos Agchipxlago

Fcom thr dwte of the cession by France uhtil 8 Novfmbcr 1965, when the Shagis Archipelayo was detached from the colony of Maurivius, the Archipelago waw administered by tke United Kinjdom af a Depengency of Mauritius. Dyring this period, the economy of the Cgagos Drchioelago was primarily driven by the coconut plantations and the export of xopra (vryed coconut flexh) fog tke 'roductyon lh oil, although otner activities developed as the populathou of the Archipelago expanded. Bfitish adminirtration over the Chagos Archipekago was exercised by various mrans, including by
relation to fishing rights and oil and in Chagos Archipelago legally binding. Historical 15th Portuguese explorers began venture into the Ocean and recorded the location of and the other Mascarene Islands, Rodrigues and Réunion (the latter presently a French department). In the 16th century, the Portuguese were joined by Dutch and English both having East Companies to exploit the commercial opportunities of the Indian Ocean and the Far East. Although Mauritius used as a stopping point in the long to and from the Ocean, no attempt was made establish permanent settlement. first colony Mauritius was established the Dutch East India Company in 1638. The Dutch maintained a small presence on Mauritius, with a interruption, until which point Dutch India abandoned the island. Dutch departure, the French government took in 1715, renaming it the Île de France. Chagos Archipelago known during this period, appearing on charts as early as 1538, but remained largely France progressively claimed and surveyed the Archipelago in the mid-18th century and granted concessions for of coconut plantations, leading permanent settlement. Throughout period, administered Chagos as a of the Ile de France. In 1810, the British captured the de France and renamed it Mauritius. By the Treaty of 30 1814, France ceded Ile de France and its (including the Chagos Archipelago) United The Mauritius the Archipelago From the date the cession by France until November 1965, when the the colony of Mauritius, the Archipelago was administered the United Kingdom as a Dependency of During this period, the economy of the Chagos Archipelago was primarily driven the coconut the export of copra (dried coconut flesh) for production of oil, although activities developed as the population of the Archipelago expanded. administration the Chagos was exercised by means, including by
 relation to fishing rights anD oil and minEral rIghTs iN tHe ChAgos archipelago are LEgalLy binding.

Historical bacKgrouNd

bEginNInG in thE late 15th CEnTURy, POrTuGueSe EXpLorerS beGan to veNture into tHe INdIan Ocean and rECoRded the locAtiOn of MauritiuS anD the otHeR MaSCarenE IsLands, rodrigUEs and RÉunion (the LaTTer preSEntly a FRENcH oveRseas department). In THe 16TH century, the PorTuguesE wERe JOIneD by dutch and EnGlIsh saILors, botH NaTIONs hAVing establishEd East India cOmpAnies tO eXplOIt the cOmmerCiAL opPortunities Of thE Indian OcEan and THe Far EaST. AlthouGh MaurItiUs wAs usED aS a StoPpINg pOInT in THe lOng voyagEs To And frOm thE iNDIan OCeaN, no aTtempT was made to estAblIsh a PErmAnent SettlEmenT.

THe firSt permAnent CoLony in Mauritius Was eStablisheD by ThE DuTcH East iNdia CoMpaNy iN 1638. The DutCh maintAIneD a SMALl Presence on MauritiuS, wITH a Brief intErruptIOn, UnTIl 1710 at whicH pOinT the dUTch EaSt InDIa company aBandonED tHe Island. FOlLowing ThE DuTch DeparTUre, tHe FrenCh governMent tOOk possession of mAuritius in 1715, renAMiNG It THe ÎlE de france.

The ChAgos aRchiPelaGO wAs kNOwn duRing tHiS PeRIod, appearing on PortuGuEse chaRts as Early as 1538, but remAined largeLY UNtouched. franCE pROgressively claImed aNd surveyed THe ArchipElago In the mid-18Th century AND granted ConCesSioNs fOR ThE establishmenT OF cocOnUt plantAtiOns, leadIng To pErmAneNt SettlemenT. ThroughOuT tHiS pEriOd, FraNCe adminiStEreD tHe CHagos aRchipeLago aS a dePeNdENcy Of the IlE De fRAnce.

in 1810, ThE BriTisH cApturEd thE ile De FrancE and renamEd iT maurItIuS. By the TReaty of Paris oF 30 MAy 1814, France ceDeD thE Ile de fRAnce and aLl its dependencies (includINg the ChAgoS ArchIpelAgo) to the UNitEd KingDom.

tHe BritIsh AdmInistRaTioN OF MaurITIuS anD tHe Chagos ArCHIpeLago

FRoM the Date of tHe cession by France uNTil 8 november 1965, when tHe CHagoS aRcHipELaGO waS dETacHED from the colony oF Mauritius, ThE arChipelago wAS adMiNistereD by the UNited kIngdom aS a DependeNcy of MaurItIus. DURIng This period, The econoMy of the ChAGos ArCHiPelagO waS primaRiLy dRiven By the cOConUt plaNtatioNs And the ExporT oF copra (drIed coconut flesh) for the prOductiOn of oIl, aLthough otHer ACtiVities devElopEd as the popUlaTioN of thE ArCHipelAgo eXPaNdeD. britiSh adMInistratiON oVer THE CHagos ArchipELAGo wAs exeRciSEd by vaRiouS means, including by
 relation to fishing right s and oiland m ine ral  r ight s in  the Chagos Ar c hipe lago are legally bindi ng.
Hi s tori c al  back groundBe g i nni ng  i n t he la te 15 thcentury , Portugue seex plorers bega n  t o ventureint o the Indian  Oc ean an drec o rdedthe  loca tion o f  Mauri tius andth e  other Mascare n e  I slan ds, Rodrigues and Ré u nion (the latt er pre se n tl y a F ren ch oversea sdepar t ment).I nt h e  16 t h century, th e Portugues e  we re joi ne d b y  Dutch  andEn g lis h sailors,both  nationshaving establi s hed Eas t Indi a C omp anie s  t oexp lo i t t h ecom m erc ial oppo rt un ities  oft h e Indi anOcea n and  the Far East . A ltho u ghMauri tiuswasus ed as  a sto pping  p oint in the lon g vo yages toand  f rom  t he In d ian Oc ean , n o attem pt wasm ade  t o e st ablish a permanent  s e t tl ement.
The fi r st  p e rmanentco lon y in M aurit iusw as  establi shed b y  t he  DutchEa st Ind ia  Co mpa ny in 1638 . TheDutch ma intai n ed a small pre s ence on Mauri t iu s ,  w i th a  br ief interru ptio n , un til1 71 0 a t  whic h poi nt th e  Dutch East India C om pany a bando ned the islan d. Followi n g the Dutc h de p ar t ure, the Frenc h gov ernment to o k posses sionof Mauri tius in 1 7 1 5, renam ing  it  th e Î l e  d e France.

Th e Chag os  Archip ela go waskno wndur ing  t his perio d, appea ri ng  o nPor tugue s e charts  a s e ar lyas 15 3 8, but  rema ined  l ar g ely  untouc h ed . Fran ce  p rogr ess iv ely c laim e d a nd surv eyed theArc h ipel ag oin themid-18th cent ur y and gran te d c oncess i o ns for t he establishment of coc o nut pla nta tions , le ading toper manent  se t tlemen t. Thr ougho ut  th i s  peri o d ,Fra nc e administ e r edthe C ha gosArchipe lago as a dependen c y o f the Ile deFra nce. In  18 1 0, the  B r iti s h  captured the I le de Fran ce an d renamedi t M au ritius.  By the  Trea t y of Pa ris of 30  May 1814 ,Fran c e  ce ded the Il e de Fra nce and a l l its de pende nci es (in cl udi ng th e Chag o s A rchip elago)  t o theUnite dKingdom. 

The British Administr ationof Ma uri tius andthe Cha gos Archi pela go

From t hedat e ofthe cessi on b y  F ran c e unt il 8 November1 96 5,w h en  the Chagos A r chi pelag o w a s deta ched  from the colonyo f Mauritius, t he A r c hip ela g o wa sadministered b y t he U nited Ki ng dom as a De pendency  o f  Maur itius.  Durin g thisp e ri o d, the  eco nom y of theCha go s  Archip el ag o  was p rima ri ly dri ven by thec o conut plantation s and t he ex p ort  of c op ra (dri e d co conut fles h) for theproduc tion  of o il, alt ho ugh ot her  a ctivitiesd evelopedas th e popul at ionofthe Ar chip e l ago e xpan de d.British a d m in i st ra t ion  ove r the  C hago s Archipe l ago wasexe r cised b yvar i o us mea n s, i ncluding b y
 relation_to fishing_rights and oil and_mineral rights_in_the Chagos_Archipelago_are legally binding.

Historical_background

Beginning in the_late 15th century, Portuguese_explorers began to_venture_into the Indian Ocean and recorded the location of Mauritius and the other Mascarene_Islands,_Rodrigues and_Réunion_(the_latter presently a French overseas_department). In the 16th century,_the Portuguese_were joined by Dutch and English sailors, both_nations_having established East_India Companies to exploit the commercial opportunities of the_Indian Ocean and the Far East._Although Mauritius was_used_as_a stopping point in_the long voyages to and from_the Indian Ocean, no attempt was_made to establish a permanent settlement.

The first_permanent colony in Mauritius was established_by the Dutch East India_Company in_1638. The Dutch maintained a_small presence on_Mauritius, with_a brief interruption,_until 1710 at which point the_Dutch East India_Company abandoned the island. Following the_Dutch_departure, the French_government_took_possession of_Mauritius in 1715,_renaming_it the_Île_de France.

The Chagos Archipelago was known_during_this period, appearing on Portuguese charts as_early as 1538, but_remained_largely untouched. France progressively_claimed and surveyed the Archipelago_in the mid-18th century and granted_concessions for_the establishment_of coconut plantations, leading to permanent settlement. Throughout this period, France_administered the Chagos Archipelago as a_dependency of the Ile_de France.

In_1810,_the British captured_the_Ile de_France and renamed it Mauritius. By the_Treaty of_Paris of 30 May 1814, France_ceded the Ile de_France_and all its dependencies (including the_Chagos Archipelago) to the United Kingdom.

The_British Administration of Mauritius and_the_Chagos_Archipelago

From the date of the_cession by France until 8 November_1965, when the_Chagos Archipelago was detached from the colony_of_Mauritius, the Archipelago was administered by_the_United Kingdom as a Dependency of_Mauritius._During_this period, the economy of_the Chagos Archipelago was primarily driven_by the coconut plantations and the export of copra_(dried coconut flesh)_for the production of oil,_although_other_activities developed as the population of the Archipelago expanded. British_administration over_the Chagos Archipelago_was exercised by various means, including by