HC Deb 11 February 1969 vol 777 cc1116-8
Q3. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for an official meeting with the Head of Government of Portugal.

The Prime Minister

None, Sir.

Mr. Fraser

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have in my hand a piece of shrapnel from a rocket fired by a Portuguese aircraft in Zambia? Bearing in mind the very close ties that Portugal has with this country, is it not a disgraceful state of affairs that Portugal, in Mozambique, should blatantly evade sanctions, and not only that, but kill the citizens of a country which opposes the sanctions?

The Prime Minister

I have been in close and personal touch with the President of Zambia on this and all other related questions. I have had discussions with him on this in July of last year and again at the time of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. I should be glad to respond to any proposals made to me by the President of Zambia, particularly if he produces evidence of the kind that we require, and take it up with the Portuguese.

My hon. Friend will know that it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to supply arms to Portugal for use outside her N.A.T.O. responsibilities in Europe. No arms go to Portugal for use in Africa. [Interruption.] No arms go for use in Africa. If this is being circumvented or broken I would be glad to receive evidence and we should certainly take it up.

Mr. Hastings

Is not the prosperity of these two Portuguese provinces in Africa of direct British interest? Is there not a great opportunity for British exports there, and would we not stand a better chance if we were seen to treat this old and loyal ally with a little more respect and understanding than we do?

The Prime Minister

Portugal is, of course, an old and loyal ally within N.A.T.O. This does not mean that we support her policies in Africa, and we have made plain in successive Commonwealth Conference communiqués—I may be wrong in this—going back to before this Government came into office, that we do not agree with her policy in Africa. Certainly we would not approve of arms supplied for N.A.T.O. purposes being used there. There are allegations; when we get the evidence we will investigate them.

Mr. Lubbock

How can the Prime Minister possibly make a check on whether these arms, supplied to Portugal, ostensibly for N.A.T.O. purposes, are not being sent from that country to repress the Africans in Angola and Mozambique? Since it has been impossible to make such a check, will he not now impose an embargo on the export of arms to Portugal?

The Prime Minister

It is not impossible to make a check. We have throughout had this on the shipments to Africa. This would certainly apply to Angola and Mozambique—

Sir Knox Cunningham

Nigeria.

The Prime Minister

Nigeria is not in that part of the world—it is several thousand miles away. It applies a fortiori to any possible use involving the strafing of Zambian villages. That there have been Portuguese attacks on Zambian villages is not in dispute. We are prepared to receive evidence from the Zambian Government if it would lead to the suggestion that these were N.A.T.O. arms being used.

Mr. John Lee

Apart from this question, is there not enough evidence of Portuguese connivance at sanction-breaking in Rhodesia to merit a meeting at which my right hon. Friend should have some very straight things to say to the Portuguese Government?

The Prime Minister

We have been in very close touch with the Portuguese Government on many of these questions over a period of time. The enforcement of the Security Council resolution dealing with this matter is for the Security Council.