Q2. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade regarding the policy of Her Majesty's Government for bringing to an end the illegal régime in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. There is regular and close co-ordination between the numerous Departments concerned with the enforcement of sanctions against Rhodesia.
Mr. EvansI thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. The Question was tabled before the Secretary of State saw the African ambassadors and high commissioners on Monday of this week. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that there have been on clandestine talks with the Smith régime and that the Government are determined to increase their efforts to support United Nations sanctions against Rhodesia? Will my right hon. Friend consider withdrawing the Home-Smith settlement, which is laid on the table and which has been rejected by the overwhelming majority of the African people. as was shown by the Pearce Report? Will my right hon. Friend give consideration to the proposal made by the African National Council this week, that the leaders of the African people who are now interned should be consulted?
§ The Prime MinisterI confirm what my right hon. Friend said. There have been no talks with the Smith regime in Rhodesia. Our position remains that we are vigilant in dealing with any sanction-breaking by any United Kingdom citizens. There have been very few instances of that over the years. We are also vigilant in making known through appropriate machinery evidence we have about breaches by other countries.
My hon. Friend will be aware that recently a lot of information came to light about sanction breaking. That is being taken up with the proper authorities and with the countries concerned, and I understand that action is being taken. My hon. Friend will also know that this week my right hon. Friend and I met representatives of the African National Council who came here on behalf of Bishop 598 Muzorewa and repeated to them the assurances for which my hon. Friend asked. My right hon. Friend and I told those representatives that the previous Government's proposals do not now lie on the table. They were rejected by the African people. There will be no consideration of any deal with the Rhodesian régime until proposals come forward which are accepted, in acordance with the former fifth principle, and until we know that they are approved by the majority of the people of Rhodesia, including the African population. I hope that is clear.
§ Mr. HastingsWould it not be better if the Prime Minister gave some encouragement to Mr. Smith in his negotiations with the ANC? As the right hon. Gentleman's policies on Rhodesia have not been markedly sucessful in recent years, would it not be better if he concentrated on maintaining law and order here in the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland, rather than on keeping up the pretence that he and his Government are in a position to do anything whatever about Rhodesia?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not my impression that Mr. Smith is in need of any encouragement while the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) and many others on the Opposition benches are around to give him the encouragement he seeks, including some votes by the then Leader of the Opposition, supporting the action which Mr. Smith took, at a very critical time. I have made clear that we shall need to have the assurance of the support of the African people before any agreement can be reached.
The hon. Gentleman referred to law and order in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, but it was he and others in this House who first set the principle of a breakdown of law and order by supporting, erroneously, the illegal Smith r régime.