§ 16. Mr. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present security situation in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. CroslandThe security situation in Rhodesia continues to give cause for grave concern and underlines the need for an early settlement.
§ Mr. TownsendDoes the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary appreciate that terrorist activity in Rhodesia, particularly the murder on Sunday night of 27 unarmed African civilians, is bound to reduce support for moderate opinion in Rhodesia and outside, and that without such moderate opinion it will be very hard to reach a settlement? What is he personally doing to put this fundamental point over to the front-line Presidents in Africa?
§ Mr. CroslandI recognise only too well that atrocities by whichever side—hot pursuit raids, whether into Mozambique or into Rhodesia—will do nothing to make a moderate settlement any easier. I accept what the hon. Gentleman said on that. But the important 662 influence that the British Government can exercise is not to make our views known to the two sides—those views are perfectly well known already—but to do everything we can to bring about a settlement, which alone will bring atrocities to an end.
§ Mr. Ioan EvansHas my right hon. Friend seen a statement by Mr. Joshua Nkomo that his life has been threatened in Rhodesia? What has he done to protect African Rhodesian leaders returning to Rhodesia to meet their people?
§ Mr. CroslandI fully accept that the British Government have a great deal of responsibility in these matters, but our responsibility does not extend to the protection of individual African leaders in Rhodesia. We have no armed forces or police there or in any of the surrounding countries.
§ Mr. ChurchillIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the horror and distaste that the British people hold for these continuing acts of terrorism, which are causing such suffering not only to whites but, above all, to the black population of Rhodesia? Will he explain why he has not made representations to the Government of the Soviet Union, who are responsible for arming, equipping and training these forces?
§ Mr. CroslandI have already made it clear today, and do so again, that I share the general feeling of horror and distaste although I hope that when the hon. Gentleman expresses horror and distaste in future he will do so in a more evenhanded way than he has done today, because this is not simply a one-sided business. It is two-sided. As for the Soviet Union and any intervention it is carrying out or intends to carry out in Southern Africa, we have made it clear to the Soviet Government that, if they believe in detente, detente is a worldwide concept covering Southern Africa also and is not confined to Europe.
§ Mr. John DaviesCan the right hon. Gentleman reassure us that Mr. Ivor Richard, in his visits to Africa, has been guided by the right hon. Gentleman very firmly to bring to the notice of the frontline Presidents how gravely these incidents affect the whole course of the Geneva Conference and the attainment of a just and reasonable settlement?
§ Mr. CroslandYes, Sir. Mr. Richard will bring this to the attention of the front-line Presidents, and, similarly, when he goes to Salisbury, as he certainly will, he will draw the attention of the Government there to the views held by most people here, if not by the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill), about some of the hot-pursuit incidents that we have seen and some allegations made against the white security forces by the Catholic Institute of International Relations.