§ 5. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his discussions with the Argentine Government about the future of the Falkland Islands are now concluded; and with what result.
§ 9. Mr. Gordon Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the Falkland Islands.
§ 12. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister of State to the Falkland Islands.
34. Mr. Colin Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit to the Falkland Islands by the Minister of State.
§ 35 and 36. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of State to the Falkland Islands;
§ (2) what further conversations he has had with the Government of Argentina about the Falklands and other matters of mutual interest.
§ 37. Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the future of the Falk land Islands and on the discussions held by the Minister of State with the islanders.
§ 44. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will exclude the question of Sovereignty over the Falkland Isles from the agenda of discussions with the Government of Argentina.
§ 62. Mr. Bodyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a White Paper on the negotiations with Argentia about the Falkland Islands.
§ 63. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a White Paper on the talks which the Minister of State had on his recent visit to the Falkland Islands.
§ 72. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government have not sought and are not seeking to persuade the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands to accept Argentine sovereignty.
74. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. M. StewartI have nothing to add to my statement, and to the Answers I gave to questions on this matter on 11th December, and subsequently in the debate on 12th December.—[Vol. 775, c. 424–34 and 608–13.]
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that Answer mean, then, that negotiations involving the sovereignty of the Islands are still continuing? Does that mean that the Government have not grasped the fact that public opinion in this country simply will not permit them either to bribe or bully the Falklanders out of the Commonwealth and into the dominion of a foreign Power?
§ Mr. StewartThe answer to the first part of the question is, "Yes, Sir"; these negotiations are continuing, as I have often explained to the House. The answer to the second part of the question is that there has not been and will not be any attempt to bribe, pressurise or persuade the Falklanders against their judgment.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellIn the interests of good relations with Argentina, would it not be best to be frank now and make it clear that sovereignty cannot be part 851 of any agreement in prospect, thus obviating a serious misunderstanding later?
§ Mr. StewartI have stated our position so often and so clearly that I do not think the Argentine Government are under any misunderstanding.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs the Secretary of State aware that in fact he does not state the position clearly? He creates confusion and dismay by every statement that is made from the Treasury bench. Was it not folly to lead Argentina to think that sovereignty might be transferred irrespective of the right of self-determination? Will not this do great damage to Anglo-Argentine relations?
§ Mr. StewartThe hon. Gentleman asked that Question during the debate, and I answered it then. We have made it clear that the issue of sovereignty is under discussion but that we would not make a cession of sovereignty against the wishes of the islanders.
Mr. JacksonHas any progress been made on the purely practical question of communications between the Falkland Islands and Buenos Aires?
§ Mr. StewartThat is another very important issue in the discussions, but the discussions are not yet concluded.
§ Sir G. NabarroIs not the Foreign Secretary aware that since our debates the Argentine Government have issued a statement saying that the sovereignty of these Islands should be transferred to them without further consultation with the islanders and without the consent of the islanders? Is not the Foreign Secretary aware that this report appeared in the Daily Express on Saturday? Is it a true report or a false report?
§ Mr. StewartIt is a true report, but it adds nothing new to the already known position. This was why I explained to the House in my statement that there is a divergence of view between the Argentine Government and ourselves.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs it true, as is suggested, that there was this proposed sell-out of the Falkland Islanders in order to bring off a big arms deal—for the Government to sell arms to the Argentine?
§ Mr. StewartNo. The hon. Gentleman keeps making up new fairy tales of his own. In any case, there is a later Question about this.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs negotiations are to continue, can the Secretary of State say whether any agreement that is reached with the Argentine will be put before the Falkland Islanders before it is signed?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir; I think I can say that, although this still lies in the future, because the main purpose of my noble Friend's visit recently was to describe progress and explain the way the Government were handling this matter.