§ 2. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is prepared to make it his policy to institute an economic boycott of Chile.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe Government continue to keep all aspects of United Kingdom-Chile relations under review, but they do not believe that an economic boycott would be an appropriate or effective way of achieving the stated objectives of British policy.
§ Mr. ThorneI welcome recent statements on Chile by the Secretary of State, but is it possible to assure the House that there will be no more military equipment spare parts exported to Chile in the foreseeable future?
§ Mr. RowlandsWe have terminated any arms sales to Chile. We have been fulfilling only the existing contracts that we are obliged to fulfil.
§ Mr. McCrindleIs it not clear that the Government's policy towards Chile has led to static trade between the two countries, whereas trade between Chile and some of our EEC partners, especially West Germany, is booming? Will the hon. Gentleman estimate against how many countries we should have to impose an economic boycott if we applied the criterion of disagreement with their Governments?
§ Mr. RowlandsWe do not plan to have an economic boycott on Chile. The trade figures with Chile are not bad. They have not gone down badly in the past year or two, despite our strong stance on this issue.
§ Mr. FlanneryDoes my hon. Friend agree that deep disgust has been felt at the statement made by the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) about Chile, which is a brutal 1365 dictatorship and which the hon Gentleman conveyed as a democracy? Will my hon. Friend accept my congratulations on his recent statement that our stance is even more determined on Chile than it has ever been so far? Does he agree—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] Every question that I ask is always too long for the Opposition. It is an honour with which I shall have to out up Does my hon. Friend agree that nothing of a military nature should go to Chile to uphold its ferocious régime?
§ Mr. McCrindleOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Apart from the fact that the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) did not convey to me his intention to attack me in the House, may I say, through you, that if the hon. Gentleman can produce any statement that I have made to the effect that the present Chilean régime is a democracy I shall publicly apologise?
§ Mr. FlannerySplendid. It is quite evident that Chile is not a democracy by any standards, and does not even begin to approach one.