Rhodesia

HC Deb 26 April 1978 vol 948 cc1367-9

15. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in discussions with the United States Government on securing agreement on policy on Rhodesia.

Dr. Owen

Mr. Vance and I spent several days together in Africa recently and had further discussions this week. We are in complete agreement concerning our joint policy towards Rhodesia and will continue to work closely together in our efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement.

Mr. Lewis

As one who previously did not oppose sanctions against Rhodesia, may I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he thinks it is time for himself and the Government to take an initiative at the United Nations to get sanctions removed against Rhodesia in order to give sup port to the now multi-racial Government there, especially in view of the fact that there is need for a counterbalance against the forces surrounding Rhodesia?

Dr. Owen

I recognise the hon. Gentleman's stand on this issue, but I do not think that it would be wise to take the course he suggests. Apart from anything else, it would not be accepted by the other member States. Furthermore, I do not think that it would be justified on its merits. I believe that that issue would have to be faced, as I have already said to the House, if we were satisfied that the Fifth Principle had been carried out, if there had been a transfer of power, and if a new Government had been elected and independence established. In those circumstances we would have to decide whether to recognise and whether to lift sanctions.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Despite the time, I intend to call one more hon. Member from the Government side and then the Opposition Front Bench speaker, and I shall add the time taken by them to the end of Question Time.

Mr. Newens

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the internal settlement was brought about by the Smith regime only as a result of pressure brought to bear by the Patriotic Front? Would it not be a recipe for continuing war and disaster in Southern Africa if we were to withdraw sanctions or go any way towards recognition of that so-called internal settlement?

Dr. Owen

I have no doubt that there have been a number of pressures which have brought about the movement that has taken place—in which, I regret, the need for armed fighting and a continuation of such fighting has been a factor. But I do not think this House should underestimate the effects of United Nations sanctions. I believe that after a period of 12 years they, too, have begun to bite.

I agree with my hon. Friend that we should pursue a negotiated settlement, and I believe that it is possible to achieve this on the basis of a United Nations presence, a neutral administration and fair and free elections. What has happened in the last day or so in Namibia gives me some ground for thinking that we may be able to achieve the same sort of agreement in Rhodesia.

Mr. John Davies

I applaud the efforts of the right hon. Gentleman and the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Vance, to secure a peaceful solution in Rhodesia. However, does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that his persistent commitment to the Anglo-American plan is bound to undermine the potential fruition of the settlement reached between Mr. Smith and the three black leaders? Will he please now give some kind of support to ensuring that that which represents at present by far the most likely system to bring peace to that country will be carried forward with help and not with hindrance?

Dr. Owen

It is not my job to hinder anybody. My job is to try to seek a wider measure of agreement. One way of achieving that agreement is to bring about a cease fire. I keep coming back to the issue of a ceasefire because that is the crucial element that is missing in the internal settlement. That requires the participation of all the nationalist leaders in negotiations. Without it, I believe that there will be continued conflict and that it will be very much harder to hold fair and free elections, harder to get international acceptance, and certainly harder for Zimbabwe to become a prosperous independent country.