§ Sir Alec Douglas-Home (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the closure by the Spanish Government of the frontier at La Linea to all traffic except pedestrians and the announcement by the Governor that the Colonoy will face "an indefinite period of savage restrictions", what preparations have Her Majesty's Government made for carrying on the life of Gibraltar.
830§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Frederick Lee)The exact implications of the new restrictions cannot yet be fully assessed, but the Governor's reports so far indicate that this latest Spanish measure is unlikely, of itself, to cause serious economic difficulty.
I am in constant touch with the Governor and I am satisfied that he has plans to meet future contingencies.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeFirst, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that much of this deplorable misunderstanding would have been avoided if the last Foreign Secretary had been willing to be explicit about British sovereignty over the Rock and the isthmus? Will he request the new Foreign Secretary, or do so himself, to remedy this situation without delay and say that the Government will sustain British sovereignty against all threats in all circumstances?
Secondly, is not the Secretary of State much too easily satisfied? The House will not be satisfied with the kind of general assurance which he has tried to give today. We shall want to know what detailed steps he is taking to sustain the life of the Rock which is in serious and definite danger. Will he, therefore, make a statement to the House at the earliest possible opportunity, giving in detail what the Government are doing?
§ Mr. LeeThe first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question was obviously directed to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, who has a number of Questions to answer on that subject on Monday. The assurances which I have given to the House are based entirely on the Governor's statements to me. I think that it is quite clear that what has been announced is not instituting a blockade. We are faced with a partial closure of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain—partial simply because the pedestrians are still being allowed to go through.
I think that the House would be well advised to realise that no merchandise has gone through for a long time and that the vast bulk of Gibraltar's trade has always come by sea. The only difference which this latest step will make is in the supply of fresh fruit and fish, and alternative arrangements are being made for that.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIs not the right hon. Gentleman Colonial Secretary, and is he not responsible for declaring the British Government's view on sovereignty over the Rock? Therefore, why did he suggest that we should wait for his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary? Why cannot he do it now?
§ Mr. LeeI do not think that that is a fresh question at all. I remember that in the days when the right hon. Gentleman was Foreign Secretary he answered Questions on foreign policy.
§ Mr. OgdenWould my right hon. Friend give the House a straightforward assurance that all the resources of the United Kingdom will be placed at the disposal of the Government of Gibraltar if they require them?
§ Mr. LeeGibraltar received certain capital aid from this Government in 1965. They have also received some temporary assistance. We are now about to begin discussions with them on the kind of assistance which they need in future. I do not think that they will find that when it comes to dealing with Fascist dictators we are as soft as right hon. Members opposite.
§ Sir F. BennettFirst, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answers provide the best possible justification for an earlier Question about the disappearance of his Office as soon as possible? Secondly, can he enumerate one single thing which has happened since the talks began under duress other than a steady deterioration of Gibraltar's position under the appeasement of the present Government?
§ Mr. LeeOne thing which we did not do was to give them any frigates. The marked deterioration began before talks commenced, and not after.
§ Mr. John LeeWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are many hon. Members on this side of the House who have become increasingly disturbed by what is happening? Would he bear in mind that some of us have a sneaking suspicion that Gibraltar is being traded in to satisfy our gallant allies the Americans in their cold war policy?
§ Mr. LeeAll I can say is that there is not the slightest basis for truth in my hon. Friend's statement
§ Mr. A. RoyleWould the right hon. Gentleman give a firm assurance to the House that Her Majesty's Government will stand firmly behind the people of Gibraltar in the present difficulties which they are facing? Would he give a categorical "Yes" to that question?
§ Mr. LeeThe present Government have stood very firmly behind the people of Gibraltar, and we have no intention of wavering.
§ Mr. WinnickIn view of the deep concern in this country, can the Spanish Government be told in simple language that in no circumstances do the people of Gibraltar want to live under a Fascist dictatorship, a dictatorship supported over the years from the beginning by the Opposition?
§ Mr. LeeAgain, I think that that is a matter for my right hon. Friend. There are Questions for answer on Monday on this subject.
§ Mr. HeathIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday the Governor called on the inhabitants of Gibraltar to face what he described, I think, as a savage blockade of indefinite duration and said that the British Government had offered help? Is it not evident from what the Colonial Secretary has said that the Government have made no preparations whatever for carrying out this undertaking? Will he please accept that the House cannot be satisfied with this? When will he be prepared to come to the House and tell us explicitly how the Government will carry out their undertaking to help Gibraltar to maintain its way of life?
§ Mr. LeeThe right hon. Gentleman has distorted the whole picture. Ever since the beginning of this business the Government have been in the closest touch with the Governor and Ministers in Gibraltar. We are still in touch with them. The plans which we have for assistance to the Government of Gibraltar are ready, but if the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends think that I am going to inform the Spanish Government what they are, they can think again.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Minister aware that the preparation which the Tory Government made for an eventuality of this kind was to sell frigates to Spain?
§ Mr. ThorpeCan we have an assurance that at least in regard to this colonial territory, adequate contingency planning will be carried out? Will the Colonial Secretary consider two possibilities: first, that there will be difficulties about the Spanish workers coming in from La Linea; and secondly, that there will be a cessation of the steamer services from Algeciras? Will the Government do some contingency planning to meet both these eventualities?
§ Mr. LeeYes, we are well aware of the problem concerning Spanish labour. I have made it clear that at the moment there is no threat of any type to Spanish workers going into Gibraltar. I have made it clear also that the vast bulk of Gibraltar's trade is done by sea and not by land. We will be quite happy to assist in making sure that it remains that way.
§ Mr. George JegerSince my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary is still apparently in charge of the affairs of Gibraltar, does he not think it advisable that he should make the three-hour trip as soon as possible to Gibraltar, to meet the people of Gibraltar and find out the position for himself?
§ Mr. LeeI am so far in charge of the affairs of Gibraltar that arrangements have been made for some time. I cannot yet give the date.
§ Mr. SandysDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that he is speaking an entirely different language from the Governor? Why is he trying to belittle the seriousness of the situation? Since, apparently, he is still in touch with the Governor, could not the right hon. Gentleman co-ordinate his views with him and present a clear picture to the House of Commons?
§ Mr. LeeThe right hon. Gentleman will be gratified to know that most of the things I have said today are based on reports sent to me from the Governor.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We must move on.