§ 1. Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent official talks with the Spanish Government.
§ 10. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Madrid.
§ 18. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about his latest official visit to Madrid.
§ 21. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his official talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)My visit to Madrid at the invitation of the Spanish Government marked the third in a series of meetings with the Spanish Foreign Minister in which we have agreed to work together on matters of mutual interest. During the talks, which were of course confidential, we continued our examination of the question of Gibraltar and also exchanged views on other international and bilateral subjects. The talks were useful and we have agreed to meet again in April.
§ Mr. JohnstonI accept fully the propriety of the Government maintaining full contact with dictatorships of the Right as well as with dictatorships of the Left, but can the Secretary of State categorically assure us, first, that there will be 3 no question of the Government supporting any application by Spain to join the Community unless and until it has full and free democratic elections and, secondly, that there is no change in the Government's attitude to Gibraltar and the assurances which have been given to the Government?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs to the first part of that supplementary question, we should be talking about something in, let us say, the 1980s which does not arise for the time being. When Spain applies for membership of the Community, as she will at some future date, the Community must be unanimous about the admission of a new member.
As for Gibraltar, we have written into the preamble of the Order in Council relating to Gibraltar that we will not deal in the question of sovereignty with the Spanish Government unless the people of Gibraltar so require.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs my right hon. friend aware that there are many of us on this side of the House at any rate who are not too much embedded in the 1930s to realise that Spain has changed and is changing and who are ready to welcome the kingdom of Spain into the fullest association with the European Community for strategic and other British reasons? Will my right hon. Friend also accept that we fully welcome his determination to ensure that Gibraltar remains British?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, Sir. Spain is part of Western Europe and in due course I have no doubt that Spain will join the Community.
§ Mr. WallI welcome the suggestion that in future years Spain can join the European Economic Community, but does my right hon. Friend agree that continued attacks from the other side of the House on countries such as Spain, Turkey or Greece do not add to the unity or the future peace of Europe? Will he again confirm all the undertakings that have been given to the people of Gibraltar?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes; if such attacks are pursued in other quarters we shall have no friends left in the world before long.
§ Mr. JayAs the Secretary of State said "when" and not "if" Spain applies to join—so that apparently it is not hypothetical—what is the British Government's attitude to such an application?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI cannot say that now. The Spanish Foreign Minister has said that it is likely to be the 1980s before this application is made.
§ Mr. CallaghanDoes the Secretary of State mean by his last answer but one that if Spain remains a dictatorship he will be happy to associate with her in the Community?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe right hon. Gentleman the Shadow Minister need not draw that conclusion now or in the future.
§ Mr. CallaghanThen did the Secretary of State mean by his last answer but one that we would have no friends left in the world unless we associated with dictatorships?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeNo, but the way in which hon. Members opposite sometimes allow themselves to indulge in criticisms of other countries will mean that we shall have few friends left if they continue.