§ 6. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics stressing the importance in the context of good British-Soviet relations of better treatment of ethnic minorities such as Jews and Ukrainians in the Soviet Union; and what further representations are contemplated.
§ Mr. HattersleyAs my right hon. Friend told the House on 30th October—[Vol. 880, c. 235–6]—in these matters we will speak and act wherever and whenever we feel it to be right. But these cases can sometimes better be dealt with in private discussions rather than in public declaration.
§ Sir D. Walker-SmithI accept that Her Majesty's Government cannot assume the role of lecturing other nations on these matters. However, may I ask that they lose no opportunity of bringing to the attention of the Soviets the concern of this country with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Russia is also a party, and the good that would be done to improve Russian-British relations by removing the causes for complaint, which cause considerable concern here?
§ Mr. HattersleyI hope and believe that our views on these matters are well known. They have been made very clear in the past on many occasions, both publicly and in private. I promise the right hon. and learned Gentleman that we shall not hesitate to make them known in a similar fashion in the future.
§ Mr. FauldsSince this Question deals with the treatment of ethnic minorities, may I ask what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to their mates in the Israeli Government about the treatment of the ethnic minorities—the Palestinian Arabs—both in Israel 419 proper and in the militarily occupied territories, where they are under extreme repressive measures?
§ Mr. HattersleyThat is not merely another question; it is another question about which Questions have been put down for answer this afternoon.
§ Mr. BlakerDoes the Minister agree that it is a question not simply of ethnic minorities, who are indeed very important, but of the treatment that the Soviet Union accords to Russian citizens, such as academics, writers and artists? Will he consider making representations to the Soviet Union to the effect that while its treatment of such people continues it must have an adverse effect on the process of detente, if only for the reason that neighbours of the Soviet Union will feel anxiety about the way in which a régime capable of such action might behave in other respects?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe hon. Gentleman's analysis of public opinion in the West is very accurate, but he will understand that the Government's locus in this matter is extremely limited. We have to take a view and make a judgment on the question whether the process of detente and good international relations are best enhanced by public statements of that sort, by private statements of that sort, or in any other way.
§ Mr. Russell JohnstonDoes the Minister nevertheless recognise that there is considerable concern in many parts of the House about the principles upon which the Government determine whether they have locus to protest about the treatment of ethnic minorities or for that matter, political prisoners? For example, what distinction is to be drawn between the Soviet Union and Iraq and Indonesia? I should like the Minister to say something more about the basis upon which the Government make these decisions.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe basis on which we make these decisions is that of applying a policy that is even-handed and consistent from one country to another. But that even-handedness and consistency have to be matched by a judgment about the countries and areas in which direct action, direct intervention, public statement or private pursuit is most likely to achieve the same result. I hope the hon. Gentleman accepts that in the treatment 420 of minorities and civil liberties the Government's attitude is the same, irrespective of the country concerned.