§ 12. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 1078 Affairs if he will make a statement on the continuation of talks with the Rhodesian Government.
§ 16. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe are still seeking to ascertain whether an acceptable basis can be found for the negotiation of a settlement within the Five Principles. For this purpose, our exploratory exchanges with the Rhodesian régime are continuing.
§ Mr. WallCan my right hon. Friend say when Lord Goodman will be returning to Salisbury and when he expects these talks to reach Ministerial level?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeNo, Sir. I hope that Lord Goodman will be able to have another meeting which will take matters further, but, as I say, I am in discussion with the Rhodesian régime about this. I leave the matter there the time being.
§ Mrs. StrangIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when Ian Smith appeared on Panorama he made it clear that he had no intention of agreeing to unimpeded progress towards majority rule? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not have a direct meeting with Smith unless there is an overt and clear change in his position and that he will not go to Rhodesia just as a sop to the pro-Rhodesian band of the Conservative Party?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThat would not be my habit. In reply to the serious part of the hon. Gentleman's question, any settlement would have to be within the principle of unimpeded progress to majority rule.
§ Mr. HastingsCan my right hon. Friend assure us that the question of the Common Market decision to be taken by the House in October will make no difference at all to the timing and the manner of the negotiations he is conducting in Rhodesia?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThat is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. FauldsWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether it is in connection 1079 with these talks that the tricky little traitor Hugh Beadle, who for so long deceived the rightful Governor of Southern Rhodesia while sharing both his roof and hospitality, has recently had his British passport renewed in Pretoria?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe hon. Gentleman had better give me notice of the latter part of that supplementary question.
§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it conceivable that the Foreign Secretary does not know this as a fact?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of order.
§ Mr. HealeyWhile understanding the numerous delicate points of timing attending the right hon. Gentleman's negotiations on this question, may I ask whether he has any intention of meeting representatives of the Rhodesian Government before the end of September?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI think that the right hon. Gentleman had better await events. What I must be certain of before I meet any official representatives from Rhodesia is, as I said earlier, that we are talking the same language. I am not quite sure yet that we are.