Southern Africa

HC Deb 07 July 1976 vol 914 cc1358-9

15. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek a special meeting with Foreign Ministers of OECD countries to consider the situation in Southern Africa following the Soweto massacre.

Mr. Hattersley

The Government lose no opportunity to make known at appropriate internatiooal meetings their total opposition to apartheid and the South African Government's brutal enforcement of internal repression. The United Nations Security Council has already passed a resolution, which we supported, condemning the South African Government's violent repression of the disturbances in Soweto. However, we do not believe that the OECD, which is primarily concerned with economic questions, is the correct forum to consider this problem.

Mr. Hooley

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is precisely the underpinning and development of the South African economy by the Western world that has cast apartheid into its permanent mould? As long as that support and underpinning from the Western world continue, the possibility of breaking apartheid other than by a savage racial war is not on. In the light of this, will my right hon. Friend reconsider his answer?

Mr. Hattersley

No. I believe that apartheid is not only wrong but doomed to failure. It is the duty of the Government to bring about an end to this obnoxious system with the minimum amount of suffering for the people of South Africa. The worst situation would be if the system were ended by war. A situation that would not be as bad but potentially dangerous would be some sort of economic boycott and economic starvation. I believe that we must look forward to progress of a different sort on behalf of all the people of South Africa, as well as taking into account the proper interests of the British economy.

Mr. Luce

In view of the proposals that the Transkei should become independent in October, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is sympathetic to the strong line being taken by Chief Matinzima that the African people living in the Republic should have a choice of citizenship between the Transkei and the Republic of South Africa?

Mr. Hattersley

If the hon. Gentleman wants me to answer that question, he must give me notice and put it in on the Order Paper.