Rhodesia (Hansard, 21 March 1979)

§ 1. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.

§ 2. Mr. Cronin
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Rhodesia.

§ 7. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about Rhodesia.

§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Dr. David Owen)
On 17 March I made a detailed statement on the Government's attitude and copies have been placed in the Library. Mr. Cyrus Vance made a statement in similar terms on behalf of the United States. This calls upon the parties to accept the principle of internationally supervised elections in Rhodesia, and to agree to negotiate the arrangements for such elections, either before or after 20 April. The Government do not consider that the April elections in themselves represent the threshold for decisions over recognition, or the lifting of sanctions; but that they could provide the opportunity for a different leadership in Salisbury to engage in negotiations with the external nationalists.

§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler
In the light of that answer, for which I thank him, and in the light of the statement of 17 1470 March, is the right hon. Gentleman now prepared to give further consideration to observing the forthcoming elections in Rhodesia? How does he intend to get reliable information on the feeling within the country unless his party, at least—if not the Government—sends observers?

§ Dr. Owen
That statement made clear, although it had been made clear already, that the Government will not be sending their own observers to the régime's elections. To do so would imply official recognition of elections which we do not believe can provide a solution to the conflict. The question of visits to Rhodesia by private persons or MPs to observe the elections is a matter for them to decide.

§ Mr. Bennett
Will my right hon. Friend explain to Mr. Frost and the thousands of less ignorant people who watched the Frost programme on Rhodesia that the major problem with internal elections is how the electoral roll has been drawn up? Will he give his estimate of how many people have been excluded from the electoral roll in Rhodesia?

§ Dr. Owen
There is no registration of voters in the elections that will take place on 20 April. It is extremely difficult to do so in a country 90 per cent. of which is under martial law and in which there is considerable violence. We have seen only today a statement from the International Red Cross calling attention to the violence on both sides and asking for an end to that violence. In those circumstances, it is hard to see a free and fair election.

§ Mr. Powell
Is any study being given to the problem of the reception in this country of such refugees from Rhodesia as may have a legal right to enter the United Kingdom?

§ Dr. Owen
Yes. This matter is being kept under fairly constant surveillance. We have a responsibility to do so.

§ Mr. Ioan Evans
Has my right hon. Friend read the reports about the Muldergate affair in South Africa? Has that influenced people in this country, or in others, in their attitude towards the illegal regime in Rhodesia?

§ Dr. Owen
I think that, at the moment, we are dealing with supposition. There has not been any detailed statement of 1471 the allegations. I prefer to reserve judgment until I see the revelations of the Erasmus Commission.

§ Mr. Ian Lloyd
Why does the Foreign Secretary issue such documents as the press statement of 17 March which can only be described as damaging, dismal and disillusioning? How far does he expect the Europeans of Rhodesia to go? Having virtually abandoned all supremacy, what must they do? The Foreign Secretray talks about the wisdom of compromise. Is he suggesting that compromise with terror is justifiable in Rhodesia but that is not justifiable in Ulster?

§ Dr. Owen
If the hon. Gentleman had spent a few of the last 13 years in this House not supporting Mr. Smith and the illegal declaration at every single, conceivable opportunity, his words would carry more weight now.

§ Mr. Hooley
Now that Bingham Mark I and Bingham Mark II both appear to be dead, what practical steps are the Government proposing to take to interdict the flow of oil to Smith's war machine, which is committing murder and mayhem in all the surrounding African countries?

§ Dr. Owen
I do not agree with my hon. Friend. The Bingham report has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Government are still considering the matter in the light of the refusal of another place to follow the decision of this place. However, ever since sanctions were first applied by the United Nations the South African Government have openly flouted them. That has undoubtedly contributed to the continued deterioration and the violence. There is no sign that the South African Government will change their policy. There is no sign that the international community is yet willing to follow the advice of my hon. Friend and apply sanctions on oil. Some individual countries have already acted.

§ Mr. Rifkind
As the Government have indicated that they would have no objection to Parliament sending observers to cover the Rhodesian elections, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what representations he has made to the Leader of the House to ensure that Parliament has an opportunity to make a decision?

§ Dr. Owen
A decision for Parliament is not one for the Government. If the hon. Gentleman wants the Government's advice, I must tell him that the Prime Minister made it clear that he did not advise the House, as an official body, to send observers to the elections.

§ Mr. Pym
As the right hon. Gentleman has, unfortunately and regrettably, done his best to discredit all hopeful developments in Rhodesia over the past year, including the internal settlement and the elections, will he say how he will make the most advantageous use of the Rhodesian elections for the sake of the people of Rhodesia? Secondly, if, as he says, he is not to send observers, how is he to be in a position to assess and judge the elections? If he is not in a position to judge them, how will he honour his commitment, which is based on the elections being seen by the House of Commons to be free and fair, those being his own words?

§ Dr. Owen
As for making advantageous use of the elections, I have already indicated that one result that could emerge from them is a new leadership inside Rhodesia. That would be helpful. The situation would be greatly helped if that leadership were not associated in any way with the previous regime.
There is a question on the Order Paper on how we shall remain informed. The Government send officials to Rhodesia whenever they think that they can achieve their objectives either by obtaining more information or by contributing to a negotiated settlement. There are many other sources of information that are available both to the Government and to the House.
I do not think that it is difficult to make a judgment about free and fair elections when already we know of the military situation in Rhodesia. When hon. Members come to consider whether they wish to go to observe the elections, I hope that they will recognise that they will have to seek the security of the Armed Forces in Rhodesia during their time as observers. They will not be able to observe the elections in Rhodesia as they do in this country.

§ Mr. Pym
The right hon. Gentleman said that he intends to send officials to Rhodesia from time to time to report on what is going on. Is not that tantamount to admitting that observers are necessary?

§ Dr. Owen
No. The officials are not associated with the election period, as they have not been in the past and will not be in future. Officials go from time to time when that is helpful. I have never accepted that we should isolate ourselves from Rhodesia. I have been prepared to go there myself. I have been prepared to see all shades of Rhodesian opinion at any time. It is open to all hon. Members—no doubt they will want to do so—to assure themselves of the acceptability of whatever is happening in Rhodesia under the fifth principle.