HC Deb 24 January 1962 vol 652 cc195-6
30. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will now take steps to abrogate the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Alliance.

Mr. Heath

No. Sir.

Mr. Hamilton

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what good purpose the Treaty now serves? Is he not aware that the Portuguese Government themselves recently said that they were studying the Treaty to see what useful purpose it served the Portuguese? It may well be that the initiative will come from Portugal to abrogate the Treaty, and would it not be of more benefit to our cause in the world ideological conflict if we renounced any formal agreement with this country?

Mr. Heath

We have differences with Portugal on colonial policy, and these we have made plain. I have read the speech of Dr. Salazar, and if he wishes to approach us about suggestions of the kind which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned no doubt he will do so.

Mr. H. Wilson

Following the speech of the Portuguese Prime Minister recently, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether any approach was made directly or indirectly by the Portuguese Government suggesting any abrogation of this Treaty and, if such an approach is made, will the right hon. Gentleman accept it with alacrity? On the question of colonial policy, would he not agree that this country's name would stand a lot higher in the world if we made much sharper our criticism of Portuguese colonial policy and made it very plain in our voting record in the United Nations?

Mr. Heath

As far as I know, no approach has yet been made to Her Majesty's Government by the Portuguese Government on this matter. The Treaty is far wider than that particular part of the Treaty of 1899 referring to colonial territories.

Mr. Dugdale

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the material advantages which our country derives from this Alliance outweigh the obvious material disadvantages attached to it?

Mr. Heath

We wish to have friendly relations with countries like Portugal, with which we have a large number of interests in common. We are in fact both members of E.F.T.A., which is an important common interest, and I cannot accept that we cannot make perfectly plain our position over colonial policy without incurring the disadvantages which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned.

Mr. Parker

As under the Treaty of 1661 there are obligations upon Britain to defend the conquests and colonies belonging to the Crown of Portugal, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are not likely to be difficulties when the liquidation of the Portuguese empire in Angola and Mozambique takes place?

Mr. Heath

If the hon. Gentleman studies the matter he will find that it was superseded by the Arrangement of 1899.