HC Deb 01 December 1959 vol 614 cc1003-5
46. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Prime Minister the purpose of his proposed visit to the Union of South Africa.

The Prime Minister

This visit forms part of a tour covering four Commonwealth countries in Africa. I regard it as a logical continuation of the tour of Commonwealth countries in Asia and the Pacific which I made in 1958.

Mr. Stonehouse

That adds nothing to the platitudes we heard last week. Will the Prime Minister assure the House that he will in no way, by word or deed, appear to endorse the evil policies of apartheid, which are abominated by all decent people in these islands?

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made in reply to the Leader of the Opposition last week.

Mr. Callaghan

We realise that this is embarrassing for the Prime Minister, but he has brought the embarrassment upon himself. Does not he realise that the policy to which my hon. Friend has referred is weakening the Commonwealth? How far does he propose to find out from the other African countries through which he proposes to tour to what extent they find this policy repugnant? If he does so find, will he then make representations to the South African Government?

The Prime Minister

I can imagine nothing more wrong than for me to answer that supplementary question. The Commonwealth, as I tried to say last week, comprises a number of self-governing Governments. The Prime Ministers of all these different countries meet every two years here in London, and I would have thought that, if I were to add to what I said last week, I should be injuring the structure of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Callaghan

Does not the Prime Minister realise that his very visit to South Africa is in itself taking up a position about this subject—[HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense."]—and that he will be forced at some stage to declare himself in relation to these policies? May I put it to him that if he would declare himself against apartheid, he would be doing a great deal to strengthen the real bonds of Commonwealth?

The Prime Minister

I am going first to Ghana, then to Nigeria, then to Central Africa and then to the Union. These are four Commonwealth countries—although some of them are not yet full Commonwealth countries—all of whose Prime Ministers we hope, in due course, to welcome at our conferences in London. It seems to me right and proper that, when it is possible, a British Prime Minister should himself occasionally make visits to them.

Mr. Gaitskell

While appreciating the delicacy of the Prime Minister's position, may I ask him whether in view of the obvious fact, which cannot be obscured by any amount of verbal gymnastics, that the policies of racial discrimination pursued in the Union of South Africa are highly detrimental to the unity of the Commonwealth and, I should have thought, would be opposed generally by all parties in this country, he will not consider it advisable, to avoid misunderstanding that his visit might otherwise create, that he should be prepared to talk to the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa and advise him to modify these policies?

The Prime Minister

This Parliament and this Government are responsible for certain territories for which they are still the responsible authority. We pursue the policies which we consider right and we try to preach the doctrines that we think correct. But the Commonwealth is now a large institution of many countries, and public statements about the policies that this or that member of the Commonwealth might pursue would be much more likely to disrupt the Commonwealth than to lead it forward as the years go by into a greater force for international good.

Mr. Gaitskell

We do not want a public statement except to say that the Prime Minister is prepared to discuss this matter with the Prime Minister of South Africa.

The Prime Minister

I said last time—and I think it sums up my view—that private talks are not suitable subjects for public statements.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Denis Healey.

Mr. Gaitskell

The Prime Minister knows perfectly well that only last week he had private talks with Dr. Adenauer and followed them with a public statement.

The Prime Minister

The talks were confidential and I made only that summary which I had already agreed with Dr. Adenauer that he should also make.

Mr. Gaitskell

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I called Mr. Denis Healey.