Rhodesia

HC Deb 02 February 1970 vol 795 cc20-2

27. Sir F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which executive British authority the consular or administrative officers representing foreign powers, still operating in Rhodesia, have their official dealings in the conduct of their local duties and responsibilities.

Mr. M. Stewart

None, Sir. How consular and administrative officers of foreign states deal with those who exercise illegal power in Southern Rhodesia in order to protect their nationals is a matter for them.

Sir F. Bennett

Could the Foreign Secretary say whether the fact that diplomatic representatives of one sort or another have dealings with illegal representatives out in Rhodesia is or is not acceptable to Her Majesty's Government? If it is not acceptable, what is the right hon. Gentleman doing about the matter?

Mr. Stewart

The important thing to notice is that it is steadily declining. At the time of the illegal declaration of independence there were 20 countries with consular representatives in Rhodesia. They have pursued various policies since, but only five of those 20 now maintain their representation at the same level as at the illegal declaration of independence. I imagine that will be welcome to the hon. Member and to all loyal subjects.

Mr. Molloy

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that in so far as there have been even more distasteful drifts to authoritarianism in Rhodesia with journalists and lawyers being harassed and evicted from that country, perhaps, despite the conflicting views on other issues connected with Rhodesia, my right hon. Friend, the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition and the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Liberal Party in this House should make a joint declaration deploring such a disgusting attitude?

Mr. Stewart

I think it is quite clear that if a régime first bases itself on a doctrine of racial supremacy, it ends up by tyrannising not only other races but also its own people.

Mr. Braine

Will the Foreign Secretary come back to the question? Can he confirm that a consul can exercise his functions only by virtue of an exequatur issued by the host country. Who therefore issues exequaturs to the five consuls in Rhodesia, including that of the United States?

Mr. Stewart

I must repeat the answer I gave, that the way in which consular and other officers of foreign States try to look after the interests of their subjects in a part of Her Majesty's Dominions where there is now usurped power is their own decision.

32. Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now concluded his study of the feasibility of communications sanctions against Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. M. Stewart

No, Sir; I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said in the House on 17th November.—[Vol. 791, c. 839–40.]

Mr. Biffen

What are the factors which account for the inability of Her Majesty's Government to come to a conclusion on this subject, other than possibly a faltering realisation that communications sanctions, like economic sanctions, are nonsensical, self-defeating and should not be pursued?

Mr. Stewart

If the hon. Gentleman is urging the abandonment of sanctions against the illegal régime, I am not sure whether that commands the support of all his right hon. and hon. Friends. However, he will know, as anyone who has studied the subject does, that this sanction is an extremely complicated matter. There are arguments both for and against, and we shall require further time before pronouncing on it.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Will my right hon. Friend resist the endeavours to bring aid and comfort to the racialist régime in Rhodesia?

Mr. Stewart

I have no difficulty in doing that.

Mr. Braine

Leaving aside the matter of sanctions against the régime, to which reference has just been made, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any steps to cut off postal communication between innocent individuals in Rhodesia and their families in this country would be regarded with utter repugnance by the majority of British people?

Mr. Stewart

I know that that is one of the arguments advanced in the whole discussion of communications sanctions. The hon. Gentleman knows that there are other matters to be taken into account. We are examining the question, and I will let the House know our decision as soon as possible.