HC Deb 25 July 1978 vol 954 cc1347-8
7. Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to meet the South African Defence Minister.

Mr. Mulley

No, Sir.

Mr. Brotherton

Bearing in mind that the Soviet Union is the principal enemy of this country and that this nation is very active both in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, does not the Secretary of State agree that it would be a good idea to have discussions with the South African Minister of Defence about the defence of the Cape route, thereby showing that he is at least aware that there is a problem in Southern Africa regarding the safety of this nation?

Mr. Mulley

I do not think that that would be very helpful in the circumstances. It is a matter for the nations that use the Cape route to take appropriate steps to protect their shipping.

Mr. Grocott

Will my right hon. Friend make some inquiries about the 40 deaths in detention of dissidents in South Africa in the past two years? Will he join me in condemning the hypocrisy of the press and the Opposition in this country who profess concern about dissidents who are being imprisoned in the Soviet Union but who make no protest whatsoever about dissidents who are murdered in South Africa?

Mr. Mulley

I agree with my hon. Friend that there are disparities in the emphasis on the treatment of human rights as between one country and another. But making inquiries in foreign countries is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and not a matter for me.

Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles

Can the Secretary of State explain how the supply of maritime equipment and ships can have any possible bearing on the internal policies of the South African Government?

Mr. Mulley

I do not think anyone would suggest that there was necessarily any connection. But there is a mandatory resolution of the United Nations on the provision of armaments and other matters to South Africa, and we honour that mandatory resolution.

Mr. Lee

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider that answer and meet the South African Defence Minister in a reminiscent mood and ask him how much assistance he and his friends gave Hitler during the Second World War? Will he consider asking them to remove their guards from Robben Island so that we can get Nelson Mandela out of it?

Mr. Mulley

I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend means when he makes a request for reminiscence about helping Hitler. I personally was responsible for a cerain amount of sabotage—I do not know how many building projects I helped not to come to fruition—and I spent five years in Germany. However, I do not believe that reminiscences are the best way to pursue diplomatic exchanges.