HC Deb 14 October 1969 vol 788 cc205-8
Q4. Mr. Molloy

asked the Prime Mininster if he will make a statement regarding the latest position in Rhodesia and negotitations with Mr. Smith.

Q5. Mr. Wall

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest events in Rhodesia and his further consultations with Commonwealth Prime Ministers.

Q8. Mr. Ellis

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the position in Rhodesia.

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to the information I gave to the House before the Recess. Her Majesty's Government remain willing to conclude a settlement on the Rhodesian question on the basis of the "Fearless" proposals. The régime in Rhodesia have repeatedly made it clear that they are not prepared to hold further discussions on any proposals which reflect the six principles endorsed by all parties in this House. Meanwhile, the internal situation in Rhodesia has continued to develop in a reactionary direction.

I have continued to keep in touch with the Heads of other Commonwealth Governments on these matters.

Mr. Molloy

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that it is now transparently clear that the present rulers of Rhodesia have no intention of returning to loyalty or decency? Therefore, would my right hon. Friend consider, in conjunction with other Commonwealth Premiers and leaders of Commonwealth countries, issuing a proclamation to all those who are not honouring the sanctions agreement that they should do so? Would he also consider getting in touch with those in Rhodesia, both black and white, who wish to see a halt to their nation moving so quickly along the road to Fascism?

The Prime Minister

I think it is a fact that the régime in Rhodesia have made it clear that they reject the six principles and that the reason for their rejection of the "Fearless" proposals was their rejection of the six principles.

With regard to words like "Fascism", "racialism" and so on, the House will have seen the new constitution condemned by the leaders of all parties in this House, and will also have seen with some anxiety what has been done in certain land settlement questions, so far as African settlers and land owners are concerned, in recent weeks.

On the matter of sanctions, the question of securing adherence to the United Nations Resolution on this matter is for the United Nations. Meanwhile, we are playing our full part in the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee.

Mr. Wall

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that this is one of the battles he has lost, and, however much we may dislike certain aspects of the proposed new constitution, does he not realise that sanctions are only uniting Rhodesia in further undermining British influence?

The Prime Minister

They may be uniting one-twentieth of the population. They are not uniting Rhodesia. If by winning the battle the hon. Gentleman means that I should have accepted the squalid surrender which he and others have suggested I should have accepted, I am proud to have lost that battle.

Mr. Ellis

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there is now a position of stalemate, which may continue for a longer or shorter time, but that sooner or later with this régime there will be trouble there; and will he enlighten the House as to what thought he has given to what should be done when that situation is reached, what posture he will accept and what we should do then?

The Prime Minister

Policies of the kind pursued in Rhodesia, contrary to the stern warnings of successive Governments in this country, which have been repeatedly pressed on those who first had the legal power and now have illegal control, can in the long run only lead to a denial of human rights and progress of the subject races there and to increasing problems for all races there. We have warned them of this. The great development potential of Rhodesia, which we all recognise, through their raw materials and the native skills of all races, is being denied because of this decision taken against the advice of all parties in this House.

Mr. Amery

Seeing that sanctions have failed to bring down the Rhodesian Government in weeks, months or years, and seeing that they are no longer a bargaining weapon in negotiations, can the Prime Minister tell us what the sanctions are for? Are they just a gesture, and, if so, is it not a pretty expensive one?

The Prime Minister

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman began his supplementary question by referring to a totally illegal régime as a Government, I do not take the rest of his question very seriously. But it is about time that some right hon. Gentlemen decided where they stood on this issue. The Government of which the right hon. Gentleman himself was a member supported the six principles. Those principles must still be maintained by the House.

Mr. Woodburn

As my right hon. Friend has made clear that all parties desire an honourable settlement of this dispute, and as the Leader of the Opposition has made clear that he has some secret formula which he proposes to bring in after he becomes Prime Minister of this country—that prospect being rather a distant one—will my right hon. Friend ask the right hon. Gentleman to go out now to Rhodesia, use his secret formula, and bring back a solution to the problem?

The Prime Minister

As the assumption in my right hon. Friend's preamble to his supplementary question envisaged not weeks or months but decades, not years, clearly it is a hypothetical question. I do not believe that the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition has a secret formula at all. He was talking to the Tory agents in Brighton, and one understands the sort of mood he must be in. But he has supported the "Fearless" terms; he regards the "Fearless" terms as having gone as far as this country can go, so I understand from what he said last year. Since the régime rejects the "Fearless" terms because they adopt the six principles, and since the right hon. Gentleman is tied to the six principles. I do not believe that he has any secret formula.