§ 10. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make further representations at a higher level, along the lines of those made by the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, regarding the exclusion of foreign Press and independent observers from trials of Jews in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ 51. Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps Her Majesty's Government will take to seek to alleviate the situation of Jewish and other minorities in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Royle)We shall certainly certainly take such opportunities as may occur to make known to the Soviet authorities the widespread concern in this country at the way in which these matters have been handled. But I must repeat that we have no proper locus standi in matters affecting Soviet citizens in the Soviet Union or the practice of Soviet law courts in these cases.
§ Mrs. JannerWhilst I thank the hon. Gentleman for his concern, is he aware that the Canadian Prime Minister has been prepared to raise the matter with the Soviet authorities? Does he not feel that the time has come for the Government to intervene with the Soviet authorities at the highest possible level and not just at Under-Secretary level? Does he not feel that this would be a particularly appropriate time, because I am happy to say that more than half the total number of hon. Members have now signed the Motion in my name drawing attention to the problem, which is a rare show of both concern and unanimity in the House?
§ Mr. RoyleThe hon. Gentleman may not be aware that my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and, more recently, the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, have all expressed Her Majesty's Government's concern directly to the Soviet authorities. I do not think that we can go higher than that.
§ Mrs. GorstWill my hon. Friend study ways to see whether it is possible for the Government to combine or co-operate with like-minded Governments, possibly through the United Nations, to achieve a result which would be satisfactory and please a large number of people in this country?
§ Mr. RoyleI do not know whether my hon. Friend is aware that early this year our delegate at the United Nations Human Rights Commission appealed to the Soviet Government to accord all Soviet citizens the right to leave their country.