§ 16. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to initiate talks with the illegal régime in Rhodesia.
§ 35. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the preparation of the Government's arrangements for negotiations with the illegal Smith régime in Rhodesia.
§ 41. Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had with the illegal Smith régime in Rhodesia since 19th June.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Answers to Questions by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and others on 14th July.
§ Mr. HamiltonHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to Early Day Motion No. 21 specifically referring to the statements made by the Prime Minister on 14th July, when he declared that the five principles were enunciated by the right hon. Gentleman himself as Prime Minister and agreed by Mr. Smith, and that there is no evidence of that agreement in the Blue Book subsequently produced? Will the right hon. 19 Gentleman produce that evidence which the Prime Minister twice asserted on 14th July existed?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIt is perfectly true that we did agree matters should be handled at that time, in 1964, on the basis of these principles. Whether they were written down—they are not written down in the Blue Book—I do not know, but Mr. Smith accepted the five principles at that time.
§ Mr. JuddWould the Foreign Secretary agree that basically what we are faced with here is an issue of trust, and that with regard to the illegal Smith régime there can be no question of the British Government ever approving independence before majority rule is established?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI think we had better see what kind of agreement is possible before we come to a conclusion.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe Government have made it clear that during any talks they may have with the illegal régime they will continue sanctions. Is it equally clear that they will continue sanctions unless and until an agreement in conformity with the six principles is reached?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI think we had better wait to see if we can get any negotiation at all.
§ 51. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the six principles in relation to negotiations with the illegal régime in Rhodesia listed in Cmnd. Paper No. 3793 has been dropped by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe hon. Member will be aware of the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to his similar Question on 14th July. The principle in question is No. 6 of Annex A to Cmnd. Paper No. 3793.—[Vol. 803, c. 1361–2.]
§ Mr. DavisWill the Foreign Secretary restate that principle? Will he also say that he is fully committed to the other five principles and that the Government will in no circumstances permit any abrogation of any of those principles in the negotiations with the illegal and discredited régime in Rhodesia?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI have already said that any arrangements made with Rhodesia would be within the five principles. The sixth principle is the protection of the European minority in the event of majority rule. I think we had better get the five out of the way first.