RHODESIA

HC Deb 22 January 1968 vol 757 cc14-7

16. Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Portuguese and South African Governments concerning the breaking of sanctions against Rhodesia; and what representations he has made to the South African Government about the continuing entry of unauthorised armed South African Government personnel into British territory in Rhodesia.

Mr. Mulley

We have taken up these matters in each case at the diplomatic level. These exchanges are necessarily confidential.

Mr. Judd

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the time has come to internationalise the supervision of sanctions and the investigation of sanction breaking, thereby increasing effectively the pressure on South Africa and Portugal? Would he not agree that it is intolerable that foreign troops should be allowed to operate uninvited on British territory?

Mr. Mulley

I agree very much with my hon. Friend's intention, but he knows that it is for the Security Council to decide whether any member of the United Nations is fulfilling its obligations under a mandatory resolution. The Secretary-General has reported that policies pursued by South Africa and Portugal have strengthened the economic position of the illegal régime and fortified it in its defiance of the international community. We cannot purport to act for the Security Council.

Mr. Wall

As the British Government have instituted a blockade of Portuguese ports, and recently insulted South Africa over the arms ban, does the right hon. Gentleman think that any such representations would have any effect at all with those two governments?

Mr. Mulley

I think that the representations which we have made have had some effect, but I understand all the difficulties.

37. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further representations he has made to the Portuguese Government regarding the officially recorded 350 per cent. increase in Portuguese imports from Rhodesia and the 180 per cent. increase in Portuguese exports to Rhodesia during the first eight months of 1967; and with what results.

Mr. Mulley

I agree that there have been substantial increases in Portuguese trade with Rhodesia, although not of quite the same order as the hon. Member has quoted. He will know that we are in regular touch with other Governments including the Portuguese Government regarding breaches of mandatory sanctions. The hon. Member will also be aware that the Portuguese Government challenge the validity of the Security Council Mandatory Resolution.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say that the Government were facing up to the economic situation of the country after three years of Labour rule? How can we believe that as long as this country, and this country alone, bars trade with this valuable market and surrenders it to our foreign competitors?

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman is nowhere near correct in saying that this is the only country which has restricted its trade with Rhodesia. Carrying out what we deem to be a moral policy involves sacrifice to trade. Surely that was clear from the outset of these sanctions.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Is is not time that my hon. Friend reminded Portugal that she is our oldest ally and that unless she is a little more friendly in future we must start considering a revision of that long-out-of-date treaty?

Mr. Mulley

The Portuguese Government are well aware of our views about sanctions and about the part which they are not playing in enforcing them.

38. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further representations he has made to the Japanese Government regarding the officially recorded 54 per cent. increase in Japanese exports to Rhodesia in the first seven months of 1967; and with what result.

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we are in regular touch with the Japanese Government as regards breaches of mandatory sanctions. In addition my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary took the opportunity of raising this question when he was recently in Tokyo.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

A fat lot of good that did. Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is about time that we abandoned this farce? If many of his hon. Friends object to a change of policy in this matter, could not he get the Patronage Secretary to exclude them from meetings of the Labour Party at which Rhodesia is discussed?

Mr. Mulley

The only conclusion I can draw from that is that the hon. Gentleman's supplementary was not in his mind when he tabled the Question. The House may be interested to know that the figure which he quotes today, of 54 per cent., is only just above half the same figure which he quoted for Japan last October, so we are moving in the right direction.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Have the Japanese Government protested to Her Majesty's Government about the fact that British ships carrying Rhodesian food, fruit and vegetables and calling at Durban and Cape Town are being stopped?

Mr. Mulley

I am not aware of that. If the hon. Gentleman will send me details I will see that they are looked at.