§ 16. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a reply from the Spanish Government to his proposal to refer the legal issues in the Gibraltar dispute to the International Court.
§ 29. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of direct Anglo-Spanish talks about Gibraltar and current discussions at the United Nations.
§ 59. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received from the Spanish Government a reply to his proposal to refer British sovereignty over Gibraltar to The Hague Court.
§ 60. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has now received from the Spanish Government about the reference of the Gibraltar question to the International Court.
§ 63. Mr. George Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been received from the Spanish Government to the proposal to refer the Gibraltar question to the International Court.
§ 86. Sir F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, now that the Spanish Government has notified Her Majesty's Government of their refusal to allow Gibraltar's sovereignty and related issues to be submitted to the Hague Court, he will make a statement with particular reference to continuing Anglo-Spanish talks while present frontier restrictions continue.
§ Mr. George BrownOn 14th December, the Spanish Government informed us that they were unable to accept our proposal. Her Majesty's Government regret this negative reaction.
The Spanish documents, which also made suggestions for further negotiations, are under study in the light of the relevant United Nations resolutions, and a reply will be made as soon as possible.
§ Mr. FisherWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that, after the somewhat discourteous delay of over two months in 980 replying to our offer, the Spanish Government have now publicly admitted the weakness of their legal case, and that this should encourage us to continue to sustain the people of Gibraltar as far as we possibly can?
§ Mr. BrownYes, most certainly; and I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for saying what he has, in view of the attacks which were made on me by some of his right hon. and hon. Friends a little while ago.
§ Mr. JegerWill my right hon. Friend inform the United Nations and the Spanish Government that we are ready to resume talks with Spain on any subject as soon as they withdraw their barbaric restrictions from the Spain-Gibraltar frontier?
§ Mr. BrownI think that the right thing for me to do now is to say that we are considering the Spanish reply. My hon. Friend will have noted the interesting and significant resolution which was voted by the United Nations last night.
§ Mr. WallNow that Gibraltar has been undergoing a blockade for two years, what action does the Foreign Secretary intend to take to prevent this blockade being continued for another two years?
§ Mr. BrownI have said that we shall support the Gibraltarians through it all, and we are doing that.
§ Mr. DigbyWhy did the British delegate on the Trusteeship Committee vote on Saturday in favour of continuing negotiations regardless of duress?
§ Mr. BrownBecause the resolution, for the first time at the United Nations, so far as I recall, made clear that the interest of the inhabitants was paramount.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs not the best way to get the restrictions on the Gibraltar border lifted to make clear to the Spanish Government that there will be no negotiations of any sort until they are lifted?
§ Mr. Raphael TuckNow that the Spanish Government have refused, will my right hon. Friend reconsider the 981 advisability of cancelling the validity of passports to Spain?