§ 16. Mr. Jegerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Madrid has had any practical results at the Spanish frontier with Gibraltar.
§ Mr. HeathI have nothing to add to my replies of 5th and 12th June and to my hon. Friend the Colonial Under-Secretary's replies of 6th and 13th June.
§ Mr. JegerWhen will the Lord Privy Seal realise that the policy of placating and appeasing the Spanish Fascist Government which he is pursuing at the moment will not bring any results at all? When does he propose to start talking tough to them in the interests of our Colony of Gibraltar?
§ Mr. HeathWe are not appeasing the Spanish Government or trying to placate them. We are trying to improve relations. We hope that, as a result of the contacts between the two Foreign Secretaries and the pursuit of the conversations by our own Ambassador in Madrid, we shall be able to achieve this result.
§ Mr. HealeyHas the right hon. Gentleman evidence that this hope of his is justified? Does he really think that, even if Spain is a great Christian nation, as I think the Prime Minister said the other day, we will improve our relations with it by consistently turning the other cheek?
§ Mr. HeathThere were improvements last year in the position concerning passes across the frontier. There has been an improvement regarding motor vehicles this year. We hope that the visit of my noble Friend, which was only a few weeks ago, will lead to other improvements.