§ 2. Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what celebrations and exchange visits are planned for the 600th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance; and who will be the British guests of the Government on these occasions.
§ 22. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pay an official visit to Portugal.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Royle)There are two official visits planned to mark the 600th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Portugal from 5th to 8th June 1973 and the President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal, Professor Caetano, will visit Great Britain from 16th to 19th July. Other events planned include a good will visit to Lisbon by ships of the Royal Navy, and cultural events in London and in Lisbon.
§ Miss LestorDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that going ahead with these celebrations is a calculated insult to those people who are still fighting for basic human rights in those areas which are still under Portuguese influence—rights are happily taken for granted in this country? Will he reconsider the whole question?
§ Mr. RoylePortugal's internal policies are not a matter on which it would be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government or myself to comment, nor one over which Her Majesty's Government have any control. Portugal is our ally in NATO and it is our policy in that context to develop businesslike and friendly relations with the Portuguese Government.
Mr. Edward TaylorDoes my hon. Friend agree that if we were to follow the logic of the hon. Lady's suggestion we would break off diplomatic relations with every country in Africa?
§ Mr. HughesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many Members in this House and people in the country regard Portugal's war of colonial aggression in Africa as obnoxious, and see the 600 years' celebration as an occasion for lament rather than rejoicing? If an official visit has to be paid to Portugal, will the hon. Gentleman go himself rather than get the Duke of Edinburgh to do his dirty work for him?
§ Mr. RoyleI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's remarks. Certainly, if I were invited to go to Portugal I should be happy to do so. In fact, the Duke of Edinburgh wishes to go, and he has the full support of Her Majesty's Government for his visit to that country.
§ Sir D. Walker-SmithDoes my hon. Friend accept that sensible people will be glad at both the content of his reply and the reasons which he has adduced in support thereof? Does he further agree that if we were to follow the precepts of the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) we would be left with very few friends in the world, except perhaps those whose friendship we might be better without?
§ Mr. RoyleI am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for his remarks. I think the House accepts that for some time African matters have been a source of open and acknowledged disagreement between Britain and Portugal, but that does not prevent us from wishing to maintain friendly relations with Portugal.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Opposition Members will greet with some relief the phrase that he has just used, namely, that British and Portuguese views on what policies should be pursued in colonial Africa are at variance? Will the hon. Gentleman at least give an undertaking that any official visit which is paid on this occasion will not be regarded as a condonation of Portuguese policy in Africa?
§ Mr. RoyleI note the right hon. Gentleman's remarks, but I think he is aware that Her Majesty's Government endorse the principle of self-determination by all colonial peoples. We believe that its implementation, including timing and method, is a matter for the administering Power.