§ 5. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recall Her 424 Majesty's Ambassador in Santiago, Chile.
§ 25. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on future relations with the Chilean military junta.
Mr. James CallaghanChile has a strong tradition of democratic government, and our policy towards the military junta will be governed by our desire to see democracy restored and human rights fully respected there. To this end, we shall take part in any future representations to be made by the United Nations on human rights in Chile, and our ambassador has been instructed to represent strongly to the military junta our concern at the treatment of prisoners. Aid will be suspended, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development will announce details in reply to a later Question. A projected naval training exercise has been cancelled. Existing contracts are being urgently reviewed, but we shall not grant new export licences for arms. I am glad to inform the House that the Home Secretary will consider applications from Chilean refugees sympathetically.
§ Mr. WhiteheadI thank my right hon. Friend for that exhaustive statement. There was great disquiet on this side of the House about the behaviour of our accredited representatives in Santiago at the time of the coup and afterwards, particularly in their attitude towards refugees from the junta. Will my right hon. Friend say a further word about the stopping of all arms assistance to the junta? Has that been stopped from the date of the General Election onwards?
Mr. CallaghanAs for the attitude of our ambassador, I am sure that he was carrying out the instructions of the administration at the time. It was proper that he should do so. New instructions have now been sent to him.
As regards arms, I cannot go further this afternoon than I have already said. I have made clear that existing contracts are being urgently reviewed, but we shall not grant new export licences for arms.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIf we are to trade discourtesies with countries of whose internal régimes we disapprove—a policy 425 that can be all too easily counter-productive—will the Foreign Secretary undertake to act similarly towards Left-wing as well as Right-wing dictatorships?
Mr. CallaghanThere has never been any hesitation on the part of the Labour Party about making clear where we stood in relation to matters of human rights, no matter what Government were involved. My hon. Friends and I have made personal representations to ambassadors of countries where we thought that human rights were being suppressed, irrespective of the nature of the régime.
§ Mr. NewensWill my right hon. Friend refute the report that appeared in the Sunday Telegraph to the effect that warships now being constructed will be supplied?
Will he make it clear that the position of the Governmment is the same as that expressed by the then Opposition in the debate on 28th November of last year? Will he bear in mind the murder, torture and imprisonment of thousands of people in Chile who were merely pursuing their democratic rights, and so uphold our world position and honour on this issue?
Mr. CallaghanI cannot give a clear undertaking on existing contracts, as I have said, because that matter is being reviewed. There are industrial and commercial considerations that have to be and will be taken into account. Contracts are involved here, but what I say now, for the third time, is that no new export licences will be granted.
§ Mr. AmeryHas the right hon. Gentleman analysed the effects on employment in Chile of cutting back aid, particularly in the technical branch, and what the effect of employment in British shipyards will be if there are no future contracts?
Mr. CallaghanThe first consideration will be dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development when she answers a later Question. The second consideration is, of course, always in our minds and must be one of the matters taken into account.