§ 15. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what approaches have been made to the South African authorities recently over recent kidnapping and other illegal action by South African security forces in the British Protectorates in southern Africa.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNone, Sir. I am not aware of any recent cases of the kind described in the question.
§ Mr. WinnickIs my right hon Friend aware that special branch people from South Africa go into the Protectorates to intimidate and to harass refugees from the South African régime? Would not he agree that this Government and this country have a moral responsibility to give adequate protection to those people from South Africa who are fleeing from the racialist tyranny existing there?
§ Mr. ThomsonI agree about our responsibility for people who are our citizens and British Governments have always sought to carry this out. The last occasion on which there were cases involving people from the Protectorates was very nearly two years ago. But we are, of course, constantly vigilant about this question.