HL Deb 18 December 1967 vol 287 cc1265-6

2.44 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use their influence to secure consideration by the Commonwealth Secretariat of the Report of the Committee headed by Mr. Justice Dove-Edwin into the circumstance of the last General Election in Sierra Leone.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, the Report to which my noble friend refers is concerned purely with the internal affairs of Sierra Leone and it would not therefore be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to attempt to secure consideration of it by any outside body.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not a fact that this Report decided that the Opposition Party, led by Mr. Stevens, had won the Election, and that the Government had committed gross malpractices? While I appreciate that this is an Internal matter, may I ask my noble friend whether he will consider this new suggestion: that if the Commonwealth is to be regarded as a significant political entity it should follow the example of the Council of Europe in appointing a Commission to which, when liberties are infringed or democratic rights are abused, there might be a right of appeal?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, that is a suggestion to which I should like to give consideration. But I am sure my noble friend will be the first to agree that internal practice in any country is very much, and should remain, the responsibility of the Government and people of that country, and it would be highly dangerous if we were to move into a field when, unilaterally, we should intervene or question what might have occurred, particularly in a Commonwealth country.

LORD BROCKWAY

Yes. But my noble friend will appreciate that my proposal was that representations should be made to the Commonwealth Secretariat which represents all Commonwealth Governments. Is he aware that I was not suggesting that the British Government should intervene; but that the Commonwealth should follow the Council of Europe in appointing such a Commission?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper is whether Her Majesty's Government would use their influence "to secure consideration". I replied to it. I must say that I question whether the Commonwealth Secretariat is a body which could inquire into what an independent member of the Commonwealth has been involved in. But I will certainly look at the point my noble friend has made, although, frankly, I must say that I wonder whether the Secretariat is in a position to act in the way suggested.