South Africa

HC Deb 18 December 1974 vol 883 cc1549-50

1. Mr. Luard

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he now plans to pay an official visit to South Africa.

19. Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he now plans to make an official visit to the Republic of South Africa.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. James Callaghan)

Such a visit is not part of my proposed tour which will start on 30th December.

Mr. Luard

Is it not a fact that in about a fortnight's time the Foreign Secretary will find himself very close to South Africa? Might it not be a good idea to extend his travels a little to make it clear to the Government of that country that, although many people in this country welcome any initiative on Rhodesia which is likely to bring about a fair and just settlement of the constitutional problem there, many of us would also hope to see further moves by the South African Government in relation to Namibia and her own policies at home and that, if our Government are to continue to give her the support that we have been giving in the United Nations, we should expect to see further progress made in those areas too?

Mr. Callaghan

I agree with my hon. Friend's sentiments, but this visit was planned some time ago as a visit to a number of Commonwealth countries and South Africa is not a part of the Commonwealth. I would only add that in the United Nations we have been supporting not South Africa but the principle of universality of the United Nations, which is a different matter.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

If there is now the hope of easement of relations between the countries of Southern Africa and countries north of the Zambesi, is not this in great measure due to South African diplomacy and the technical and economic assistance that South Africans can and do give to other parts of Africa?

Mr. Callaghan

We should pay tribute to the efforts of all who have done anything to ease the situation in Southern Africa, including the three Presidents of the Commonwealth whom I shall be visiting. As to the part that South Africa plays, we all welcome anything that she can do to bring home the facts of life to Mr. Smith.