HC Deb 18 December 1974 vol 883 c1565
15. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the criteria adopted by the Government for recognition of a foreign Government.

Mr. Ennals

The criteria for recognition of a foreign Government are that it enjoys, with a reasonable prospect of permanency, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of much the greater part of the territory.

Mr. Cryer

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that an important element in the failure to recognise the Provisional Revolutionary Government in South Vietnam is the boundary question? If that be the question, why do we recognise the Thieu regime, in whose case conformity with the criteria seems sadly lacking? If the objection is on political grounds, why do we recognise so many politically objectionable regimes, such as those in Spain—

Mr. Cormack

And Russia.

Mr. Cryer

—South Africa, China and, for that matter, Russia?

Mr. Ennals

In Her Majesty's Government's view the question of recognition has never been one of judgment of the politics of the country concerned. We have recognised what is. As regards Vietnam, we have recognised the Government in the North and the Government in the South. In the southern part of Vietnam, the PRG controls only a small part of the territory and an even smaller percentage of the population.