HC Deb 10 March 1976 vol 907 cc411-2
15. Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government have not in recent weeks raised in the Security Council of the United Nations the intervention of a substantial Soviet/ Cuban military force in the internal affairs of an independent African nation without the invitation of any lawfully constituted or internationally recognised Government.

Mr. Ennals

Until African countries themselves wish the United Nations to become involved, there will be no majority for any action which might help towards a solution. We have consistently made clear our own strong opposition to all external intervention in the internal affairs of African countries.

Mr. Churchill

The Minister is begging the question why Her Majesty's Government, having had foreknowledge by at least two months of recognition of the MPLA as the Government of Angola, that this Soviet/Cuban enterprise was being built up in the Western Hemisphere and that arrangements were being made for this massive transfer of military power from one continent to another, did not choose that opportunity to raise at the United Nations this grave threat to the peace.

Mr. Ennals

I find it extremely interesting that the hon. Gentleman, so recently after his right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Maudling) has been condemning the actions of the Mozambique Government in complying with United Nations sanctions, should now be leaping up and calling for the matter to go before the United Nations. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I shall answer in my own way. Of course Her Majesty's Government considered whether it would assist the situation in Angola to raise the matter with the Security Council. It was the assessment of ourselves, our colleagues in the European Community and indeed of the United States of America that no purpose would have been served at that time unless the African States which were themselves principally involved had thought that that was a way to bring about a peaceful settlement.

Mr. Hooley

Is it not clear that if flagrant acts of aggression by a racist regime like South Africa take place, and if there is no reaction from the Western world, other countries will inevitably step in to fill the gap?

Mr. Ennals

That is another question, but it is doubtless true that if the matter had been raised in the Security Council the involvement of South Africa in Angola would have been as prominent in the debate as was the presence of Cuban troops. I do not know whether the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) is suggesting that that is the issue we should have taken before the Security Council, but I suggest, and very few would disagree, that that would not have been a means of influencing an effective and peaceful settlement in that dispute.

Mr. Maudling

The Minister of State has totally misrepresented me in saying that I was condemning the Mozambique Government for carrying out a resolution of the United Nations. I was condemning it for conniving at and fomenting bloodshed and terrorism.

Mr. Ennals

What I also thought the right hon. Gentleman was doing was dissociating himself from a decision taken by every representative of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, not only that there should be an extension of sanctions on Rhodesia in accordance with the United Nations resolution but that we should give assistance to Mozambique as a new State. That is what I thought he was criticising.