Horn of Africa

HC Deb 22 March 1978 vol 946 cc1489-92

6. Mr. William Shelton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now raise with the Security Council, as a threat to world peace, the increasing number of Cuban soldiers in the Horn of Africa.

Dr. Owen

Following the Somali withdrawal from the Ogaden, we believe that there is no case for a continued Cuban presence in the area and that their troops should be withdrawn.

Mr. Shelton

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the extraordinary and appalling report in The Times this morning, which purports to describe a massacre occurring in Addis Ababa, under the headline Boy of 14 shot dead after being tortured in Ethiopian red terror "? Has the right hon. Gentleman any corroborative evidence of that? The House must be greatly concerned about reports such as this. Does it remind the right hon. Gentleman, as it does me, of what happened in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge moved in? Is he aware that apparently the Norwegian and Swedish ambassadors have made representations to the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia? Does he think that there is anything that the Government can do to make the strongest representations along the same lines?

Dr. Owen

I made very strong representations when I saw the Deputy Foreign Minister only a few weeks ago about human rights in that country. It is a matter of grave concern.

I read with great concern the reports to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I have no corroborative evidence. I have asked for a detailed report. In the light of that report I shall consider whether representations should be made.

Mr. Litterick

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Cuban troops in Ethiopia are there at the invitation of the Ethiopian Government? Does he further agree that there is a certain inconsistency between the Conservative Party's attitude towards the presence of Cuban troops in Ethiopia and its former attitude towards the presence of British troops in Oman to support a manifestly puppet Government?

Dr. Owen

We have always stood by the OAU principle of respecting territorial integrity and believing that boundaries should be changed by negotiations and discussions.

My hon. Friend is right in saying that any sovereign nation is entitled to call in troops, although I do not think that anyone can believe that that can be done with impunity without changing the balance of forces in the area. I think that the situation has been resolved, in that the territorial dispute no longer exists following the withdrawal from Somalia, but few people would believe that it is right to retain that large amount of troops in the area. The OAU is against troops from outside being brought into African territory.

Mr. Luce

I have just returned from the Horn of Africa. Does the Foreign Secretary not agree that it is essential that Western nations should work with the African nations to seek the removal of Soviet and Cuban intervention in the Horn of Africa? In the light of this, will the British Government take a lead in providing humanitarian, economic and other assistance to Somalia? Will he, above all, take a lead in exposing at the United Nations the nature of the Soviet and Cuban support for the Ethiopian regime, which appears to show no respect for human rights?

Dr. Owen

We are concerned at the suffering that the conflict has caused, and we responded immediately to requests from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other bodies. We have already been able to get some supplies there and we shall consider any further requests. But I agree that the main objective of our foreign policy should be to work with African States, which themselves are very opposed to outside interference in African affairs. It is a fundamental principle of OAU activity that they should try to develop the cohesion and strength to solve their own difficulties.

Mr. Flannery

When my right hon. Friend rightly raises the danger of Cuban troops in the Horn of Africa, will he seriously consider speaking to the American State Department about the presence of 40,000 American troops in the Guantanamo base in Cuba, against the will of the Cuban people? Most Opposition Members have forgotten that they are there, by might.

Dr. Owen

There is a long-standing dispute between Cuba and the United States about the status of the Guanta- namo base. It is a reminder of the fact that there are still American troops on that island. That is an issue between the two Governments and not one into which I have any wish to be drawn.

Mr. Blaker

In view of the dangerous behaviour of the Soviet Union and Cuba in the Horn of Africa. following similarly dangerous behaviour in Angola not long ago, what consultations has the right hon. Gentleman had recently with other friendly Governments about the possible use of the political and economic levers that we possess to discourage further dangerous behaviour of that kind in future?

Dr. Owen

I am against the use of foreign troops in Africa, as I would be against their use in any continent unless it were shown that they were genuinely helping a sovereign State out of temporary difficulties, were not there to alter the balance of power, and were not there on the path of adventurism. We have made it perfectly clear that we do not think that the use by the Soviet Union of surrogate troops, in a way which would change the balance of power and strengthen its influence in the area, is legitimate. But we must face the fact that it is legitimate for the Soviet Union to be involved with African States and to supply arms, and it is possible for any African State to ask for outside help if its territory is attacked. We must achieve a balance in these matters.