HC Deb 05 May 1969 vol 783 cc24-8
29. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions he has now reached about the resolution of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on the subject of the suspension of Greece from that Organisation.

38. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an assurance that at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe he will support the Assembly's recommendation that Greece should be suspended from membership of the Council in view of the undemocratic nature of the Greek régime.

Mr. M. Stewart

I have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Eddie Griffiths) on 28th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 156.]

Mr. Fraser

Is it not time to tell the House that since Greece has broken all the rules of the Council of Europe we Mould support her suspension from that Council? Does my right hon. Friend realise that if we do not support Greece's suspension it will be regarded as shameful and as a blow to every lover of freedom?

Mr. Stewart

As my hon. Friend is aware, the recommendation of the Consultative Assembly is to invite the Council of Ministers, having regard to the previous expression of opinion by the Assembly—with which I think everyone will sympathise—to take appropriate action within a specified period. The Council of Ministers is now meeting and has to decide what is appropriate action and what is meant by "specified period". I do not believe that it would be right for me to state now, before the Council of Ministers deals with this matter, what the decision ought to be.

Mr. Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend take a much more robust attitude against what is now known to everyone as a barbarous military dictatorship? Is he aware that we on this side are sick and tired of the Foreign Office seeking to please, or giving the appearance of pleasing, hon. Members opposite rather than the Government's own supporters?

Mr. Stewart

My hon. Friend really has got this wrong. In the first place, the Government have made very clear their detestation of undemocratic and unconstitutional rule anywhere. We have left the Greek Government in no doubt about this matter. We now face the particular problem of what action it is right for the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe to take at this meeting. These are matters on which I must endeavour to act together with other members of the Council of Europe in the hope of reaching a unanimous decision.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Is it not a fact that the Committee on Human Rights set up by the Council of Europe has not yet reported and that this is one factor which the Council of Ministers should have before it? Is it not also a fact that Turkey, when in a somewhat similar situation, was given a long time, was not removed from the Council of Europe and returned to democratic processes?

Mr. Stewart

The fact that the Commission on Human Rights has still to report is a relevant factor, and this I believe is the view of many nations which are members of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Whitaker

Is my right hon Friend aware that the report that Sweden is wavering on this question, which has been promulgated by a Foreign Office spokesman, is not true? Is he further aware that we on these benches are united in our adamant belief that it would be unforgivable if Britain showed less backbone than other nations in disembarrassing democratic organisations of régimes such as the one in Athens?

Mr. Stewart

I have been in touch with other member nations of the Council of Europe, and I assure my hon Friend that any versions that suggest that we have, as he puts it, any less backbone than the great majority of the members are without foundation.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that Britain is negotiating to supply a nuclear reactor to Greece? Secondly, with Greece being a fully paid up member of N.A.T.O., are we negotiating the supply of frigates to her?

Mr. Stewart

The supply of the nuclear reactor is public knowledge already. No export licences have been applied for or granted in respect of frigates. But neither of these matters is relevant to the decision in the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is a body distinct from N.A.T.O. It is in no sense a military grouping. That is why a decision there would not necessarily be the same thing as a decision in N.A.T.O. That decision ought to take place in consultation in the meeting of the Council of Ministers which has still to be held and where the representative of the Greek Government will be free to make what statement he thinks right. I want to repeat something for the benefit of my hon. Friends. The suggestion that the Government have shown, as has been implied, any less resolution in trying to assert democratic principles is totally without foundation.

Sir G. Nabarro

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what he meant by his choice of words? He referred to "detestation". Is it not the case that the Government are at present negotiating a form of barter whereby this country takes £40 million-worth of Greek tobacco which she does not want in exchange for the supply of a nuclear power station? How does he reconcile that with his choice of the word "detestation"?

Mr. Stewart

The hon. Gentleman must have been in the House for a long time without listening to anything if he has not grasped by now that commercial transactions are often carried out between Governments which strongly disapprove of each other's political systems. [Interruption.] I refer, of course, to commercial transactions that are not of a military nature, as this one is not. It does not apply where there is an express resolution of the Security Council, to which the Conservative Government assented, as there is in the case of arms for South Africa.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Long answers mean fewer Questions.

Mr. Paget

Does not my right hon. Friend feel that in the circumstances it is somewhat odd that we should be showing such a marked preference for Greek tobacco as against Rhodesian tobacco, particularly when the payment is to be in nuclear capacity?

Mr. Stewart rose

—

Mr. Hugh Fraser

On a point of order.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Secretary of State must be allowed to answer before the right hon. member for Stafford and Stone puts his point of order.

Mr. Stewart

When my hon. Friend tries to equate Greece with Rhodesia he forgets two things: first, that there are some very important United Nations decisions about Rhodesia and, secondly, that it is in rebellion against the Crown.

Mr. Hugh Fraser

Owing to the confusion of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Notice should be given in the conventional way.

Mr. Stewart

Further to that point of order. May I raise the matter on the Adjournment owing to the confusion of the right hon. Member?

Mr. Speaker

That would be unique in Parliamentary procedure.