HC Deb 27 June 1961 vol 643 cc171-2
Mr. G. Thomas

I beg to present a Petition concerning the relationships of Her Majesty's Government with the Portuguese Government as long as the present policy for Angola shall last. This Petition was in circulation for twelve hours only on Sunday last in the Christian churches of this land. Within a short time 37,524 people had signed this Petition, which expresses grave concern about the harsh and repressive policy of the Government of the Republic of Portugal and begs respectfully that this House should manifest its disapproval of such policy by some signal act. It adds: Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that no military supplies should be allowed to be sent from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Portugal and its overseas territories in Africa and elsewhere while such repressive policy is continued. Or that such other measures may be taken as your Honourable House shall deem meet. And Your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc. The Petition was signed by Eric Leslie Blakebrough, Leonard E. Addicott and G. Thompson Brake, three Christian ministers responsible for initiating this Petition.

I have received a protest from my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) along the same lines but not in the terms of the Petition. I beg you, Mr. Speaker, to instruct the Clerk of the House to read this Petition to the House.

The CLERK OF THE HOUSE read the Petition, which was as follows: To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the undersigned Sheweth as follows:

  1. 1. Your Petitioners view with grave concern the continuing harsh and repressive policy of the Government of the Republic of Portugal towards many of its subjects in its African territory of Angola and
  2. 2. Your Petitioners respectfully feel that your Honourable House should manifest its disapproval of such policy by some signal act.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that no military supplies should be allowed to be sent from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Portugal and its overseas territories in Africa and elsewhere while such repressive policy is continued. Or that such other measures may be taken as your Honourable House shall deem meet. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

To lie upon the Table.

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