§ Q2. Dr. Gilbertasked the Prime Minister whether he made any proposals at the recent Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference for widening the membership of the Commonwealth.
§ The Prime MinisterThere were no applications for membership pending, and no Head of Government put forward proposals for widening the membership of the Commonwealth.
§ Dr. GilbertCan we have an undertaking from the Prime Minister that, should the membership of the Commonwealth be depleted by his persistence in trying to sell arms to his unattractive friends in Southern Africa, there will be no question of his trying to lend respectability to the régimes in South Africa or Rhodesia as long as they have racist legislation on their Statute Books?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no need for anyone to leave the Commonwealth because of disagreements on any political subject whatever. This was quite rightly emphasised by the Prime Minister of Canada. As to any future membership or additional membership of the Commonwealth, that has always been a matter for consultation with all Governments in the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. WaltersIs my right hon. Friend aware that many people in this country who wish the Commonwealth well have for a long time felt that if it is to survive it must move from myth to reality, and. therefore, they welcome the fact that at Singapore a realistic attitude was taken?
§ The Prime MinisterI think the great majority of Heads of Government present came to the conclusion at the Singapore Conference that if the Commonwealth is to be meaningful we need to have a fresh, new form of meeting in which we can be absolutely frank with each other in private and in which we can exchange views in confidence.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonDid the Prime Minister at Singapore ever tell the Commonwealth Prime Ministers that what the argument was all about was four Westland helicopters? If he had done so, does the right hon. Gentleman think that there would have been all this commotion about anybody leaving the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Heads of Government at Singapore were told of the legal obligations on Her Majesty's Government, which, of course, were exactly as set out by the Law Officers in their advice to the House. At the same time they were told that the Government considered that British policy required the use of Simonstown and, therefore, that the South African Navy, which has been operating with us under that Agreement, should have the necessary replacements if it required them.
§ Mr. SandysBefore we enlarge the Commonwealth, would it not be a good thing to ensure that all the existing members are fully implementing the principles contained in the declaration approved in Singapore regarding racial discrimination, individual freedom and democratic government? Will my right 1603 hon. Friend consider asking the Commonwealth Secretariat to assemble information on this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterAll the Heads of Government accepted the declaration at Singapore; and, of course, responsibility for implementing it rests on each of them individually.