§ Q3. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Prime Minister if he will dismiss the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member may assume that I do not intend to make any changes in ministerial appointments or responsibilities—including my taking on any of the existing responsibilities of other Ministers—unless and until I make a statement to the contrary.
Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, you will allow me to add that that is hoped to be a total and comprehensive blocking answer.
§ Mr. WintertonWill the Prime Minister reconsider his decision in view of his right hon. Friend's policy of virtually ignoring the responsible nationalists within Rhodesia, his obsession with the Patriotic Front and its guerilla forces, and his apparent refusal and reluctance to support an internal settlement in Rhodesia based on adult universal suffrage?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that the hon. Gentleman can really take that view, considering that my right hon. Friend spent two and a half hours yesterday with Mr. James Chikerema, who represents Bishop Muzorewa.
§ Mr. WintertonWhat did he say?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat he said is a different matter. The hon. Gentleman was asking me why he was ignored, and one cannot ignore someone and spend two and a half hours with him.
As to the obsession with the Patriotic Front, it is the case—as hon. Gentlemen frequently remind me—that the Patriotic Front is carrying on guerilla activity. It is, therefore, realistic to discuss these matters with the Patriotic Front. The policy of the Government is quite clear on these matters. We expect an election to be held. We are not choosing between African leaders. It is for the people of Rhodesia themselves to do that.
§ Mr. John MendelsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that in contrast to the silly allegations that we have heard from the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) about the Foreign Secretary, in his work on Rhodesia the Foreign Secretary has been the first Minister for a long time to succeed in bringing some movement into this really difficult question, and that he has, above all, gained the co-operation and respect of the American Administration in that work? Therefore, may I put this silly question to a serious purpose by asking the Prime Minister whether any progress is to be reported in the efforts of the Foreign Secretary in bringing about a solution in not only Rhodesia but Namibia?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is quite right. There has been considerable movement in Rhodesia on these matters. That is to be welcomed, and the support of the American Administration is particularly important in this regard. In the case of Namibia, progress is being made, although it is not being finalised as I should like to see it.
We could make even further progress in Rhodesia if the African leaders there, whether they belong to Bishop Muzorewa's, Mr. Mugabe's, Mr. Nkomo's or anybody else's group, were to come together to form a common front. At the moment, their rivalries are holding up the securing of a transfer of responsibility from Mr. Smith to the African people.
§ Mr. ChurchillAs the principal interest of the Soviet Union in Central Africa in recent years has been to finance, train and arm forces of terrorism, will the 1749 Prime Minister now categorically repudiate the unctuous and treacherous remarks made by the Foreign Secretary on his arrival in Moscow, about Britain's interests being identical to those of Russia?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The use of the word "treacherous" is unparliamentary.
§ Mr. ChurchillWith great respect, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the word "treacherous". However, will the Prime Minister now repudiate—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We have had the question.