§ 19. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to make an official visit to Chile.
§ Mr. GodberAt the present moment my right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. I paid an official visit to Chile in March and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have both visited Chile for the UNCTAD conference.
§ Mr. DavisDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that something should be done to repair the damage done by the Minister for Trade who, I am told, in the two and a half days he deigned to spend there, failed to call on one member of the Chilean Government although he had time to dine with the Anglo-Chilean Chamber of Commerce? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the importance of doing something to assist trade with this developing country by, for example, reviving export credit guarantees?
§ Mr. GodberThe hon. Gentleman is being somewhat unfair in that supplementary question. My right hon. Friend went there specifically to attend the UNCTAD conference. No discourtesy of any kind was meant to the Chilean Government. I spent some time in Chile and had long discussions with the President and other members of the Government. Our relations with that country are extremely cordial and we are seeking to do everything we can to encourage trade between our two countries.
§ Mr. LuceIs my right hon. Friend aware of the enormous fund of good will towards Britain not only in Chile but in other Latin American countries? Britain's initiative in arranging a seminar this week on Latin American affairs is a welcome move on the part of all who wish to see closer ties between Chile and Britain and the other Latin American countries and Britain.
§ Mr. GodberI am grateful to my hon. Friend for those remarks. This seminar could be an important landmark in relations. It has been widely welcomed in the countries of Latin America and I hope that its outcome will be a great success.