§ 49. Mrs. Shirley Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the blockade of Beira by the Royal Navy is to be continued.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the debate on the Address, we shall in due course explore the possibilities of an acceptable settlement in Rhodesia. Meanwhile sanctions including the Beira Patrol will be continued.—[Vol. 803, c. 81.]
§ Mrs. WilliamsWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that they will be continued throughout any negotiations that might take place with Rhodesia until such time as the unlikely possibility of a settlement based on the five principles being reached?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe have said quite clearly that any settlement made will be within the five principles. We do 323 not know, of course, whether a settlement can be made. I think that my Answer stands, therefore, that the sanctions will remain until we are satisfied one way or another that there can be a settlement or not.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs my right hon. Friend aware that we very much welcome him to the Dispatch Box? While he must take time to consider the future of sanctions, does he agree that since the price of petrol is lower in Rhodesia than it is in Britain this particular applicaton of sanctions is otiose?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeSanctions, it is true, have not obtained the political objective which was sought by the Opposition when they were the Government, but we must have time to examine the situation in all its aspects. The first priority must be to see whether we can get a settlement and common sense back into this situation.