HC Deb 25 November 1963 vol 685 cc17-20
16 and 23. Mr. R. Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what is the purpose of the official visit of Senor Fraga Iribarne, the Spanish Minister of Information;

(2) whether he will cancel the official visit to this country of the Spanish Minister of Information, arranged for 24th to 28th November.

20. Mr. Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the forthcoming official visit of the Spanish Minister of Information and Tourism.

27. Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State forForeign Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit to the United Kingdom of the Spanish Minister of Information, Sr Fraga Iribarne.

32. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will cancel the proposed official visit to this country of the Spanish Minister of Information and Tourism.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Senor Fraga Iribarne was originally invited by the Royal Institute of International Affairs to lecture on 26th November. When Her Majesty's Government learned that he was coming to this country, they decided to invite him to be their official guest during his visit. An invitation was accordingly conveyed and accepted on 12th September. During his visit Senor Fraga hopes to make himself familiar with various aspects of British information activities. I see no reason to cancel the visit, which has already begun.

Mr. Edwards

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the visit of this Minister is very greatly resented [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—by many hon. Members on this side of the House and is also resented—[Interruption.]—this is the Franco lobby—by the British trade union movement, because this particular Minister, although he had the power, refused to investigate allegations of torture and indignities committed against Spanish miners and their wives, which included the public beating and shaving of heads of at least six miners'wives in Asturias? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these allegations have been confirmed by an hon. Member of this House, and does he not agree that this continued moral and economic support of the Franco regime is completely out of tune with our belief in human freedom?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. This invitation is part of the usual exchange of Ministerial visits with countries with which we enjoy normal diplomatic relations, with the object of improving mutual understanding. I go further than that and say that, in so far as we might wish to influence other countries, we have a better chance of doing so by promoting contacts with them rather than by imposing a boycott.

Mr. Jeger

Will the Foreign Secretary bear in mind, when discussing with our distinguished visitor better relations between Britain and Spain, that those relations could be improved if Spain were to liberalise her regime? Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that he carries great influence in Spain, since he was so helpful to the Franco regime 25 years ago?

Mr. Butler

All I can say is that, in my conversations with Senor Fraga Iribarne, I am sure that we can exchange views on all these matters.

Mr. Millan

Will not the Foreign Secretary convey to Senor Fraga Iribarne the repugnance felt by most people in this country—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—at these well-authenticated cases of ill-treatment ofpolitical prisoners? Would not the biggest step the Franco Government could take towards improving relations between Spain and this country be to bring their practical policies more into line with their claims to be a liberalising regime?

Mr. Butler

I do not doubt that, on visiting England, the Spanish Minister will register the views that have been expressed, but I must safeguard Her Majesty's Government's position by saying that we cannot interfere with the internal affairs of Spain.

Mr. Rankin

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there was a time in this country's history when we did show a bit of discrimination in the choice of our visitors? Do I take it that now that the Foreign Minister has this gentleman here he is telling us in the replies he has already given that he will have a quiet talk with the Spanish Minister and tell him that many of the practices of the Spanish Government offend Members of Parliament on this side? Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Spanish Minister to try to amend, or help to amend, the ways of his Government when he goes back to Spain.

Mr. Butler

I cannot forestall or forecast what my conversations with Senor Fraga Iribarne will be, but, as I have said, he certainly will register the opinions expressed.

Sir P. Agnew

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Senor Fraga Iribarne is generally, and rightly, recognised as representative of the liberal-minded thought that is now actuating many of the policies of the Spanish Government, and is, therefore, a most welcome visitor to this country?

Mr. Butler

I should like to make it clear to the House that the Press cen- sorship in Spain has been considerably relaxed since Senor Fraga Iribarne's appointment as Minister of Information.

Mr. J. Griffiths

In his conversations will the Foreign Secretary convey to his visitor that there is deep concern amongst the members of my union—the National Union of Mineworkers—at the reports that have come from Spain of physical injury done to men whose only crime was that they struck and ceased work against intolerable conditions?

Mr. Butler

Subject to my not intervening in the internal affairs of Spain, I think that it would be perfectly possible to see that when he talks to me Senor Fraga Iribarne understands the feelings that have been expressed.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

While one knows that not everything is perfect in Spain and in the Asturias mines, or anywhere else, is my right hon. Friend aware that we did not hear very much about the liberalisation of the regime when all parties in this country quite rightly welcomed Mr. Khrushchev and Marshal Tito to the United Kingdom?

Mr. Butler

Sir, we must keep a sense of proportion.