HC Deb 24 April 1967 vol 745 cc1165-7
Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent and public importance namely, the armed rebellion against the legitimate Greek Government and constitutional authority and the consequent involvement of British citizens and the Armed Forces in a situation in which their personal safety, rights and interests are endangered". I have given you notice, Mr. Speaker, that I wished to move this Motion, and I would be grateful to you if you would rule whether it is in order.

I would like to call to the attention of hon. Members the fact, underlined by the Foreign Secretary, that we have no guarantees of any kind whatsoever that British civilians or members of our Armed Forces in Greece are safe from molestation and that the rights of individual citizens are being safeguarded. There is no communication; there is no attempt to facilitate communication on the part of the Greek rebel Government.

It is known that a censorship, as strict as any that has ever been imposed by any Fascist Government, has been clamped upon all communication with the outside world. There is no radio communication. It is impossible to enter or to leave Greece for those British civilians involved. We do not know whether they are safe or not, or even whether they may at this moment be under molestation.

I should like to emphasise that we have, at Larissa, units of the Royal Air Force under the same command as the military forces of Greece—under the same command, that is, of N.A.T.O.; and that in neighbouring Cyprus we have, under United Nations command, a contingent of the peace-keeping force soldiers as well. All these people can at any moment be involved in a most dangerous situation along with private British citizens who are now on holiday, or resident; and who cannot get in touch with their friends and relatives, including myself. Some of us do know a little about what is happening, even in spite of what my right hon. Friend said just now about lack of normal contact.

I have given you notice, Mr. Speaker, of this as soon as I possibly could, this being the first opportunity since the first news on Friday. I do not think there is any doubt that this matter is also of public importance and of importance, I would hope, to all parties in the House. Finally, I do not think there is any doubt as to its urgency—certainly for our British civilians involved in Greece. For them, there is no doubt whatever of its urgency.

It is our bounden duty to make every effort at contact and find out whether our people in Greece are safe, and to make sure that their rights are being safeguarded. This is an elementary right, and I seek to be allowed to move this Motion so that the full facts can be placed before the House.

Mr. Speaker

Will the hon. Gentleman the Member for Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan) bring to me a copy of his Motion?

(Copy of Motion handed in.)

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice that he would seek to move that this matter be considered under Standing Order No. 9. Before I rule, may I say that I need not assure him or any other hon. Member of the House that the Speaker is as deeply concerned as any other right hon. or hon. Gentleman at what is happening in a country which we all love.

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the armed rebellion against the legitimate Greek Government and constitutional authority and the consequent involvemet of British civilians and the Armed Forces in a situation in which their personal safety, rights and interests are endangered.

I regret that I could not hold this Motion to be within the Standing Order, except in defiance of precedent. Motions are at present out of order where the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government is not directly and immediately involved, or where a foreign Government are more directly responsible. It is for the House some time to decide what should be the proper scope of Standing Order No. 9, but at present I am bound by a long series of Rulings involving the particular restriction to which I have drawn attention, so that I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's Motion.

Mr. MacMillan

Mr. Speaker, while, of course—

Mr. Speaker

I hope that, when Mr. Speaker rules on Standing Order No. 9, his Ruling will be accepted.

Mr. MacMillan

It is not with any disrespect to your Ruling that I rise, Mr. Speaker. It may be that I was remiss in not drawing attention to the fact that, of course, the Foreign Secretary has a direct responsibility for every British citizen in Greece, and that the Army and Royal Air Force Ministers of Defence have a direct responsibility. In addition, there is no recognisable Government in Greece with whom to negotiate.

Mr. Speaker

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I heard the Foreign Secretary, and I gave great thought to the matter before giving my Ruling. I am aware of all the factors which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned.

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