HC Deb 17 April 1973 vol 855 cc245-6
11. Mr. Woodhouse

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will instruct the Chief of the Defence Staff to cancel his proposed official visit to Greece.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

No, Sir. It is the normal practice for Chiefs of Staff of NATO countries to exchange visits.

Mr. Woodhouse

Recognising that I might just as well have withdrawn the Question for all the good that it would do, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind for future occasions that from the point of view of the Greek Government visits of this kind have nothing to do with the North Atlantic Alliance? They are desired and exploited by the Greek Government solely to convey the impression that that Government enjoy the blessing and support of Western Governments. May I at least have from my hon. Friend an assurance that that impression is mistaken?

Mr. Gilmour

My hon. Friend's Question was wasted only in the sense that the visit has already taken place. It is not for me to say how the Greek Government view visits from our Chief of Defence Staff or from others. The Greek Chief of Staff was in London in 1971 as the guest of our Chief of Defence Staff and normal courtesy would involve an invitation to pay a return call, which he did. Obviously it is our general policy in NATO, as it is of other members, for military chiefs to exchange visits.

Mr. John Morris

Is there not a real danger of the military chiefs in Greece using this occasion to bolster their own prestige and ensuring that this is regarded as a measure of approval from the British Government of activities in Greece? Did the Secretary of State himself approve this visit?

Mr. Gilmour

Of course the Secretary of State approved the visit. But it is not for me to say how the Greek Government would view a visit. The right hon. Gentleman will remember that the Greek Minister for Industry came here on an official visit in 1969 at the invitation of the Labour Government.

Mr. Soref

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is a cause for rejoicing that we have an ally as determined to contain Communism as Greece is? Does he agree further that instead of attacking those countries which are our allies and which seek to contain Communism—like Portugal, Greece and South Africa—it would be more fitting if there were cancellations of visits to Soviet Russia and other Eastern European countries?

Mr. Gilmour

As my hon. Friend implies, Greece occupies a position of great strategic importance on the southern flank of the Western Alliance. We have normal trade, defence and other relations with a number of Governments whose internal policies we do not necessarily endorse.

Mr. Molloy

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the principles for which NATO stands require no encouragement from any form of Fascist Government? Since the colonels in Greece have broken their word time and time again by trampling on the principles of freedom and democracy, will the hon. Gentleman give serious consideration to any future visits which are planned?

Mr. Gilmour

I do not believe that the strategy of indiscriminate denunciation does any good to NATO or to our other alliances. To call in question or undermine Greece's position in NATO will not help Greece but it may undermine the position of other countries.