§ Q5. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Aden.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no present plans for such a visit, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenThat is a great pity. In view of the mounting pressures from both this side of the House and from outside Parliament, will not the Government now reconsider their Aden policy in order to stop further Egyptian-inspired anarchy and to protect the lives of the people of Aden?
§ The Prime MinisterHon. Members throughout the House join equally in deploring the anarchy, terrorism and threats to human lives, including some of the most recent declarations on this subject. However, to go at Question Time into the whole issue of Aden policy, which was debated fairly fully in the defence debate and which has been the subject of a series of statements by my right hon. Friends, would not be the right way to deal with the matter.
§ Mr. SandysHas the Prime Minister observed that the terrorist organisations in Aden have declared their intention to intensify murder and violence during the visit of the United Nations Mission there 230 in a few days' time? Does not he think that it is his duty to cancel or postpone that visit, which will produce nothing but bloodshed?
§ The Prime MinisterI had seen that statement, and that was what I had in mind a moment ago when I referred to the most recent declaration on this subject. It is a deplorable statement, expressing a deplorable intention—in line with what has been going on there since 1963. However, to cancel the United Nations visit would, I think, be the wrong thing to do. It would be to capitulate to those very instigators of terrorism; and it is, of course, important that the United Nations Committee—which has expressed views on Aden with which the right hon. Gentleman and, indeed, I would not agree—should see conditions for itself in Aden, and I hope that it will see these conditions free of terrorism.
§ Lord BalnielIs The Times Defence Correspondent correct in saying that British troops may remain in the Federation to defend the territorial integrity of the Federation after independence?
§ The Prime MinisterI thought it was the tradition in this House that Ministers did not hold themselves responsible for statements made in any newspaper, least of all statements made by The Times Defence Correspondent. As for this statement, there is no correctness in it. If there were any change on this subject, my right hon. Friend would, of course, announce it to the House as soon as any decision had been reached.
§ Mr. MendelsonWhile there will be widespread support for my right hon. Friend's statement that the United Nations Mission, having been invited, should go there as soon as possible, would not the Prime Minister agree that the time has come to warn the neighbouring States that if they continue to encourage terrorism and if they are going to make the work of this Mission all the more difficult, we might take the matter to the United Nations and provide evidence against them?
§ The Prime MinisterI very much agree with my hon. Friend, if he is talking, as I think he is, about those who are responsible for instigating this terrorism. As I have said, the Mission will 231 be capable of drawing its own conclusions and, I hope, of reporting to the United Nations and creating a shift in world opinion as to who is really responsible for this terrorism.
§ Mr. HeathHave the Federal Ministers given an indication to the Government, during the talks which they have had in London, that they will reject independence when the time comes if they believe that they will be unable to maintain internal and external security; and if they have given such an indication, what is the Government's attitude towards it?
§ The Prime MinisterI would really want to ask for a Question to be put down on the recent talks with the Federal Ministers. We are still considering the results of their discussions. It would be premature for me to try to answer a question on this point now.
§ Mr. WinnickWhilst condemning, as we must, terrorism, would not my right hon. Friend agree that there is danger that we could get involved in a large-scale colonial war in Aden? Would he therefore resist all Conservative attempts to get us to change our minds about leaving Aden by 1968?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no question of getting involved in a colonial war in Aden. Our decision on the date of leaving Aden has been announced to the House, and debated in the House, and approved by the House, but while we are there we have a clear duty, which we shall fulfil, to deal with terrorism of this kind.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamIn view of the very explosive situation in Aden, would it not be wise for the Prime Minister to take the opportunity to go there personally to see what the present conditions are?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Gentleman can certainly be assured that we get the very fullest reports, not only from Her Majesty's High Commissioner there, but from the Commander-in-Chief and all concerned, and quite a number of my right hon. and hon. Friends have, as Ministers, been to Aden recently. We have all the information required.
§ Mr. LeadbitterWould not my right hon. Friend agree that while it is right and proper that we should encourage the United Nations Mission to visit Aden and do its work there, the threat of murder and riot which has been issued recently is sufficient for us to think again about sending children there during that period?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a separate question, which was fully dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence yesterday. Much as we deplore the statement made by one of the leaders of F.L.O.S.Y., reported in the Press this morning, I do not think that that in itself adds anything more to the very fearsome and deplorable record of terrorism there is in Aden, which was taken fully into account in all the answers my right hon. Friend gave yesterday afternoon.
§ Mr. PagetHas the Prime Minister observed that these threats of murder from Mr. Asnag come from the camp of the Egyptian army of aggression in the Yemen? Is it not, perhaps, time to remind the Egyptians that their communications are as much at our mercy as Mussolini's communications to Abyssinia were at our mercy?
§ The Prime MinisterAll relevant points about Mr. Asnag's statement have been noted. What messages are sent to one country or another is, I think, a separate question.
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ Mr. Stratton MillsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Was Question No. Q12 taken with Q5?
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think it was. However, I think that the hon. Member has a case. Mr. Stratton Mills.
§ Mr. MillsCan the Prime Minister say whether a full-scale military study has been carried out of whether or not the South Arabian Federation Army can, after independence, repulse a full-scale Egyptian attack from the Yemen?
§ The Prime MinisterI did not answer the two Questions together because there has been a lot of complaint about bringing Questions up from further down the Paper, and it is always a difficult matter. In answer to the hon. Gentleman, the 233 fullest military studies have been made by my right hon. Friend in all aspects of the Aden situation and the wider South Arabian situation.