HC Deb 05 December 1967 vol 755 cc1131-3
Q4. Mr. Peyton

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an invitation to attend the Aden independence celebrations.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Peyton

Is not that rather a pity? Would not such a visit give the Prime Minister an invaluable opportunity to form a lively impression of the prospects of stability in that area? He might also be able to formulate some criteria of general application upon which independence is granted to other countries.

The Prime Minister

I am sure that that was meant in a helpful and constructive manner. What I have not heard from the hon. Gentleman or from his right hon. and hon. Friends is any constructive alternative to the action we took in Aden, which, in our view, was right. All of us recognise the difficulties both at the time and for the future. The course we took was right.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

While I understand the Prime Minister's Answer, may I ask whether he would agree that, after the six-months' period of aid at the rate of £12 million, we cannot sustain aid at anything like that scale and that aid must come from the Arab neighbours of South Yemen in future?

The Prime Minister

That is a reasonable approach to the problem. I cannot say whether the independence celebrations, to which I have not sought an invitation, will take place within six months or not. I have nothing to add, on the question of aid, to what my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said when he specifically related our aid to a period of six months.

Mr. Gardner

Notwithstanding the sad history of Aden and the whole of South Arabia in recent years, will my right hon. Friend accept that most of us on this side wish to see him maintaining the friendliest possible relations with this new country?

The Prime Minister

I am sure that that is the wish of the whole House and, of course, friendly relations involve a two-way attitude—ourselves and them. Some of the most bitter fights for independence, both under right hon. Gentlemen opposite and ourselves, have been followed by the friendliest of relations once independence has become effective.