§ Q1. Mr. Juddasked the Prime Minister whether he will now take further naval or military action in support of existing policies designed to secure the removal of the illegal Smith régime in Rhodesia.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)No, Sir.
§ Mr. JuddIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is widespread support for any policy designed to deal effectively with the Rhodesian crisis but that there is anxiety in the present economic situation lest the sanctions policy proves abortive? Will he, therefore, consider with the United Nations means for policing Rhodesia more effectively, perhaps by extending the blockade to Lourenco Marques?
§ The Prime MinisterThe question of making the sanctions policy more effective is a matter which my right hon. Friend discussed on his visit to Africa with Commonwealth Heads of Government. Should any further United Nations action be required, of course it could be initiated there.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWill the Prime Minister recognise the realities of the situation in which the United Kingdom has devalued her currency whereas a currency for which the United Kingdom is responsible—Rhodesia—has not?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat goes beyond the Question on the Order Paper.
§ The Prime MinisterIf I may reply, Mr. Speaker, of course the Rhodesian £ is not traded on the world markets, but only on black markets, and I understand that it is the view of responsible banking circles that its present value as so traded is between 8s. and 11s.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamOur £ is not worth 14s.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonSince it is now clear from the results of the visit of the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to Salisbury that there is no hope of getting a negotiated settlement with Ian Smith which would be acceptable to this House or to the African people, is it not about time that we 1485 revised our policy and stiffened it by using some kind of military force?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House on his return. As he said, both sides would consider the position reached as a result of his talks. As, however, my hon. Friend will know, Her Majesty's Government take the view that this constitutional problem is not one which it would be right to seek to deal with by military action.
§ Sir C. OsborneCan the Prime Minister explain to the House why so many of his pacifist friends are always wanting to send other people to do the fighting for them?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not necessary for me to interpret the thoughts of every hon. Member, in any part of the House, on this matter, but hon. Members on this side—and, indeed, on the hon. Member's side of the House—feel strongly about the breach of the principles which have been followed by successive Governments.
§ Q7. Mr. Hastingsasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the statement made on 14th November by my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary.—[Vol. 754, c. 231.]
§ Mr. HastingsIs not the need to end this miserable quarrel all the more urgent as a result of the events last weekend? Is the Prime Minister aware that some of us suspect that the differences between the British Government and the Rhodesian Government are much narrower than was suggested by the Secretary of State on his return? When are we going to be told precisely what the position is, so that we may judge?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman, who may or may not have his own sources of information, can suspect what he likes. My right hon. Friend told the House that as the result of these talks, despite them and Lord Alport's visit, the substantive situation—I am not talking of a return to legality—was that there was a worsening compared with the time when we met in H.M.S. "Tiger", 1486 and no fewer than three principles were involved, and that in distance we had grown further apart of those three.
§ Mr. James JohnsonIs the Prime Minister aware that we on these benches behind him value the work which was done by the Commonwealth Secretary in mending fences with the African leaders during his visit, but would he please cease sending plenipotentiaries to Central Africa, because we believe that it is quite impossible to negotiate with Mr. Smith and that he has no intention whatever of doing any deal with us? Would my right hon. Friend intensify sanctions?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have had very great difficulty in negotiating with him, particularly when he has sometimes told Commonwealth Prime Ministers that he has not met us even when we have spent one and a half hours with him. That is one of the difficulties, but I think it would be wrong that in no circumstances should there be talks between a British Minister and the régime there provided one recognises that it is an illegal régime and that a return to legality is part of the reason for the meeting.