HC Deb 30 March 1977 vol 929 cc391-2
10. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent conversations with the United States Secretary of State so far as they concerned policy on Namibia.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Edward Rowlands)

My right hon. Friend's discussions with Mr. Vance remain confidential, but there was a substantial measure of agreement on our approach to bringing about early self-determination and independence for Namibia.

Mr. Hooley

Does my hon. Friend agree that the United States and Western Europe between them command enough economic power to compel South Africa to get out of Namibia, and that if it does not do so not only will the savage racial war escalate in that part of the world but it will bring a greater conflict in East-West relations and a danger to detente?

Mr. Rowlands

I appreciate what my hon. Friend has said about the serious situations that may develop in Namibia and Southern Africa generally if South Africa does not change its policies. It has remained our position and it has been the position of the United States that we do not think that economic sanctions against South Africa will work.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Could the Minister publish at some stage the criteria that the Government produced for recognising an independent Namibia and say then, or now, whether the same criteria would apply to the Transkei?

Mr. Rowlands

If the hon. Gentleman looks at the terms of Security Council Resolution No. 385, which lays down the views supported by all Western nations in the Security Council, he will see the terms and criteria that we would use. They certainly do not fit the Transkei.

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