HC Deb 17 February 1976 vol 905 cc1122-4
Q1. Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Prime Minister, if he will pay an official visit to the United States of America.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 5th February, Sir.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

In view of the Right-Wing attacks being made on the policy of detente in the presidential campaign in the United States and by the Right-Wing in this country—though no general election campaign is taking place here—will my right hon. Friend bring his influence to bear on all parties concerned to ensure that the spirit of Helsinki is upheld?

The Prime Minister

The one thing on which we can all agree is that none of us wants to make remarks or get involved in the presidential and primary campaigns in the United States. On the question of parts of the Helsinki Agreement going beyond Europe—which is all it covers—I refer my hon. Friend to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on Friday last week.

Mrs. Thatcher

Will the Prime Minister discuss with our American allies a question that is deeply worrying many people, namely, whether Cuban troops and Soviet weapons are to be used in southern Africa beyond Angola to further Communism in Southern Africa, and also what steps should be taken now, in the British interest, to prevent that from happening?

The Prime Minister

Again, I refer the right hon. Lady to the public speech of the Foreign Secretary on these matters last Friday. The whole House will share the deep anxieties that exist about any extension of violence, for example, to Rhodesia. This stems from the fact that over 10 or 11 years there has been no response whatsoever, despite the votes of this House, from Mr. Ian Smith to suggestions for getting a reasonable settlement there. This is vitally urgent, and the Conservative Party has not always helped.

Mrs. Thatcher

Is the answer to my question "Yes"? Will the Prime Minister take an initiative of the kind that I have suggested?

The Prime Minister

The answer is that the Foreign Secretary has already done so, both in Europe and more widely. Again, I refer the right hon. Lady to his speech on Friday.

Mr. McNamara

My right hon. Friend is right to draw the attention of the House to the speech of the Foreign Secretary, but may I draw his attention to the action of the President of the United States in not accepting the decision of the Senate to extend United States territorial sea limits to 200 miles? When my right hon. Friend meets President Ford, will he congratulate him on not taking premature action on this matter, and on waiting, instead, for the Law of the Sea Conference, but also impress upon him that when the extensions are made we shall have a 100-mile exclusive fishing zone for British fishermen?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend is right. Until the Law of the Sea Conference, no one should take unilateral action on this matter. I do not think I should comment on the last part of my hon. Friend's question, dealing with what might happen after the Conference.

Mr. Churchill

In view of the decisive victory achieved by Soviet/Cuban intervention in Angola, will the Prime Minister raise as a matter of urgency with the President of the United States the clear challenge to freedom, democracy and peace posed by the militarism and expansionism of the Soviet Union? Will he further make it clear that Great Britain would support the United States in any measure to cut off capital——

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Churchill

—grain and technology to the Soviet Union until they are prepared to move towards a genuine detenté?

Mr. Speaker

Order. When I rise, the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill), should resume his seat. That applies to all hon. Members.

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that, whatever the views of the United States Government, the United States Congress voted strongly against involvement in Angola. I do not know whether he or the Leader of the Opposition are saying that when the United States took that action we should ourselves have put in troops.