HC Deb 27 May 1968 vol 765 cc1226-7
47. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his policy regarding the latest decisions of the Council of Europe about the membership of Greece on the Council.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. William Rodgers)

Although the situation in Greece was debated at the meeting of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg at the beginning of May, no resolutions or recommendations were passed by the Assembly.

Mr. Fraser

One appreciates that there is still time for consideration at the Council of Europe, but is it not time that discussions about political developments in Greece were carried forward into the N.A.T.O. Council as well for decision there?

Mr. Rodgers

As my hon. Friend and the House know, certain procedures have been started through the agency of the Council of Europe, and I think that it is the general view that we must await the outcome of those while in the meantime hoping that Greece will move in the direction we all want to see.

Mr. Winnick

Will the British Government support the latest Scandinavian plea for political prisoners in Greece and the former Greek Prime Minister? Why does Britain tend to lag behind the Scandinavian countries in the concern felt by all democratic countries about political prisoners?

Mr. Rodgers

As I made clear in the debate on the subject of Greece just over a month ago, initiated by my hon. Friend, we have a great deal of sympathy with the initiative which the Scandinavian Governments took in the Council of Europe, and I think that no one reading that debate will have any doubt of how strongly we feel about those events in Greece to which all of us must take exception.