HC Deb 08 March 1954 vol 524 cc1725-6
22. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made on the unauthorised visit of the Argentine naval transport "Les Eclaireurs" to the British Falkland Islands Dependencies, and the claim of its commander that it was in Argentine waters; and with what result.

Mr. Eden

In the exercise of our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands Dependencies, Her Majesty's Government have been very ready to welcome this vessel and her passengers to British Antarctic waters. However, Her Majesty's Government would of course have preferred longer notice of the proposed visit and, on my instructions, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires so informed the Argentine Government.

Mr. Davies

Can the Foreign Secretary inform us of the signal which was sent in reply to that welcoming this British ship to Argentine waters? Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that when he was sitting on this side of the House many of his right hon. and hon. Friends were attacking the then Government for failing to solve this problem? Does he not consider that it has proved just as intractable to the present as to the previous Government?

Mr. Eden

I should have thought that it was going along very nicely.