§ 5. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking in relation to the Security Council's resolution of 25th January concerning the illegal trial of 37 South-West Africans.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Goronwy Roberts)I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to my hon. Friends the Members for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 19th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 8.]
§ Mr. JenkinsIs it not the case that the Security Council Resolution called upon all member States to exert their influence in order to induce South Africa to comply with the provisions of the Council's Resolution? What steps has my right hon. Friend taken to exert his influence in order to induce South African compliance?
§ Mr. RobertsThis is precisely what Her Majesty's Government have done. On instructions our Ambassador in South Africa conveyed to the South African Government our strong feelings on this question of retrospective legislation, especially any carrying the death penalty. We also made sure that an observer was present at the trial, from 26th January to the end of the trial. Finally, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Caradon made a very good speech—a strong speech—at the United Nations, reasserting Her Majesty's Government's abhorrence of this kind of behaviour.
§ Mr. WallCan the hon. Gentleman explain why a self-confessed terrorist, caught armed, should not be sentenced to imprisonment?
§ Mr. RobertsHer Majesty's Government have repeatedly condemned terror- 922 ism in every form. They equally condemn the terrorist Act under which this trial was held.