Uganda (Hansard, 16 July 1975)

§ 4. Mr. Aitken
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on 1476 Her Majesty's Government's future policy towards the Government of Uganda.

§ 8. Mr. Dykes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to terminate British diplomatic representation in Uganda.

§ 9. Mr. Whitehead
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will seek to pay an official visit to Uganda.

§ Mr. Ennals
My right hon. Friend visited Uganda on 9th and 10th July. He held discussions with President Amin and with a number of Ugandan Ministers and officials, and met many of the British community. Mr. Denis Hills, the British lecturer, was released to my right hon. Friend and returned to London with him.
The talks with President Amin covered a number of topics. President Amin gave assurances about the safety of the British community in Uganda and reaffirmed that compensation would be paid for expropriated British property. Details of this and other matters of common concern are to be discussed between officials at a mutually convenient date.
Relations with Uganda have, of course, been at a very low ebb. If they are to improve, some time will be needed. We shall have to see how far we can go. But we will make a genuine effort to work towards a more normal relationship.

§ Mr. Aitken
Is the Minister aware that his right hon. Friend's handling of the delicate diplomatic manoeuvre which led to the release of Mr. Hills will be warmly approved by hon. Members on both sides of the House? In all the circumstances, would it be appropriate, perhaps, for the Foreign Secretary to be promoted to the rank of field marshal? However, on a serious note will the Minister say something more about the nature of the assurances which were received from the Government of Uganda? Were they specific? Were they in writing? Will they guarantee that no more British subjects will ever again be placed in jeopardy from inhumane and arbitrary treatment?

§ Mr. Ennals
I am certain that my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and all my other right 1477 hon. and hon. Friends will appreciate the comments of the hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) about the way in which my right hon. Friend handled a very difficult and delicate situation. I think that there was a general feeling of respect in the country for the way in which my right hon. Friend tackled the matter.
There are two particular aspects to the questions asked by the hon. Gentleman. The most important aspect concerns the British community in Uganda. My right hon. Friend received assurances from President Amin that Britons were welcome to live and to work in Uganda. The President undertook that if any problems arose over individuals in the future he would discuss these privately with our acting high commissioner. He also gave assurances concerning compensation, and these are being followed up at official level. Naturally it is our hope, and I am sure it is the hope of the House, that the assurances that have been given will be fully respected.

§ Mr. Whitehead
I should like to add my congratulations to the Foreign Secretary for his masterly handling of the situation, which was unstable not only in its political ingredients but in some of the dramatis personae involved.
Regarding compensation, many hon. Members now have constituents who are refugees from Uganda. The Ugandan Asian community in this country will want to know what the Foreign Secretary was able to secure by way of compensation agreements with General Amin.

§ Mr. Ennals
As my hon. Friend has referred to thanks and tributes, I should like, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, to express his gratitude to President Mobutu and to his State Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Citoyen Bula for the assistance that they gave in this affair. Without that help it is by no means certain that a successful outcome could have been achieved. I think that the House would want us to convey our congratulations to the acting high commissioner, Mr. Hennessy, and his very small staff for the way in which they handled the situation.
We have an assurance from President Amin that the details of the compensation will have to be worked out by 1478 officials who will shortly be visiting Kampala.

§ Mr. Tugendhat
I should like to associate myself and my right hon. and hon. Friends with the congratulations and good wishes expressed by the right hon. Gentleman.
I want to ask about the position of British subjects in certain overseas territories. Is the Minister convinced that the Foreign Office does as much as some other countries—the United States and Switzerland come to mind—to draw the attention of British subjects to conditions in some countries in which they might choose to live? Is he sure that the Foreign Office takes sufficient steps to ensure that people understand the risks that they take when the settle in countries with political systems somewhat different from our own?

§ Mr. Ennals
The answere is "Yes". I should point out that it would be difficult to live in Uganda without recognising the circumstances of life in that country. It has not been without some publicity. The British community in Uganda, which comprises a relatively small core of people, is dedicated to that country. They have strong reasons for staying there. I think that they know well the situation and have made up their own minds.

§ 12. Mr. Stephen Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to make compensation available to British-born residents recently expelled from Uganda.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Edward Rowlands)
We look to the Government of Uganda to pay compensation for losses of property suffered at the time of expulsion from that country.

§ Mr. Ross
I hope that the hon. Gentleman is aware that that is a very unsatisfactory answer. Does he appreciate that there are large numbers of British settlers who have been forced to return to this country in the past two or three years and who now are living in very depressing circumstances? As an example of this, in my constituency there is a man of great learning who is bringing up three children in one bedroom on £21 a week social security. Ought not this disgraceful situation be put right by means 1479 of the Government giving some financial assistance to these people who at the moment have absolutely nothing since they were forced out? Will the hon. Gentleman speak to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about them?

§ Mr. Rowlands
I appreciate the position that many people are in, but it is long-established policy that, in peace time, Her Majesty's Government do not compensate their nationals in respect of losses or injuries sustained in territories outside their jurisdiction. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this matter with General Amin in his recent talks.