§ 2. Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the safety of British subjects in Ethiopia.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Miss Joan Lestor)Information available to me at present does not suggest that the safety of British subjects in Ethiopia is currently endangered. But the situation there is one which gives us some cause for concern and the British Embassy is watching it closely.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesI thank the hon. Lady for that reply. Has she any information concerning the fate of Emperor Haile Selassie and his family, who have been good friends to this country over a long period?
§ Miss LestorI understand that the former Emperor, several members of his family and 200 or so other people in detention in Addis Ababa were recently visited by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who found the former Emperor in reasonably good health. Hon. Members will also have noticed recent assurances by the provisional military Government that 1551 remaining detainees will be given a fair trial.
§ Sir Bernard BraineIs the hon. Lady aware that in Ethiopia there is a long and honourable tradition of kindness and hospitality towards all foreigners and especially towards British members of voluntary agencies who have been engaged in work in that country, especially since the terrible famine of last year? Is she further aware that all Members of this House—I am speaking of well over 200 of them—who have signed the recent early-day motion are grateful to the Government for the efforts they have made in conjunction with other Governments and the United Nations to prevail upon the provisional military Government to treat political detainees with humanity and that we shall continue to welcome any further efforts that Her Majesty's Government make in that direction?
§ Miss LesterI thank the hon. Gentleman for those remarks and I share his view.