HC Deb 28 April 1955 vol 540 cc1067-9
55. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government have given the French Government assurances of support for their policy in North Africa.

Mr. Turton

Her Majesty's Government consider that it is in their interest and that of the free world to support the declared policy of the French Government, which is aimed at enabling the peoples of their overseas dependencies to take their place and play their full part in the Western democratic world. In this connection Her Majesty's Government welcome the agreement reached between the French Government and representatives of the Tunisian Government for the conclusion of conventions according to Tunisia a substantial measure of home rule.

Mr. Brockway

Whilst many of us welcome the agreement in Tunisia, does the hon. Gentleman think that his reply just now is consistent with that given to me by his right hon. Friend on Monday when he said: Either to endorse or to disapprove is not really the kind of approach to the problem which I would wish to take."?—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th April, 1955; Vol. 540, c. 619.] Further, has his attention been drawn to the statement made in Algiers on 20th April by Sir Gladwyn Jebb, the British Ambassador in Paris, when he said that France could count on the British Government and people to support her point of view in North Africa in every possible way? Is that consistent with the right hon. Gentleman's statement?

Mr. Turton

The answer to the first part of that supplementary question is that my reply is completely consistent with that given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last Monday. With regard to the second part, Her Majesty's Ambassador's speech was made in accordance with the answer I have just given. If the hon. Member studies that speech carefully, I think that he will find it is also completely consistent with my answer. In order to help him, I am arranging for a translation of the speech to be placed in the Library.

Mr. Paget

Is the Minister aware that Sir Gladwyn Jebb's speech was widely misunderstood in Paris; that it did create a good deal of perturbation amongst even the more liberal-minded Frenchmen? Will he be very careful to see that the idea is not given that we are giving carte blanche support to some aspects of French colonialism?

Mr. Turton

I hope very much that my original reply will clarify that position.