§ Q1. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit Southern Africa.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)Yes, Sir. I hope to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Lusaka in August.
§ Mr. BlakerHowever that may be, will the Prime Minister say why the Government are so opposed to the sending of observers to the Rhodesian elections, whether sent by the Government or by the House? Is it because they believe that that would amount to recognition of the elections? Is the Prime Minister not aware that his predecessor, with all his experience of Rhodesia, has publicly said that observers should be sent? Does the Prime Minister imagine that his predecessor believes that that would amount to recognition?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the answer that I gave on this matter a week or two ago.
§ Mr. GrocottWill my right hon. Friend take every opportunity to explain to the world the farce of the forthcoming rigged election in Rhodesia, in which already 28 per cent. of the seats have been allotted to 4 per cent. of the population? Does he agree that Smith knows as much about running a democracy as the Tory Party knows about achieving social justice?
§ The Prime MinisterThe important thing in Rhodesia is to secure a settlement acceptable to all the major parties there. Unfortunately, it does not seem that this election, either because of the composition of the new Assembly or because of the circumstances under which it is held—namely, the extension of guerrilla activity—is likely to produce a result that will be sustainable. In those circumstances, it seems to Her Majesty's Government that it would be better to proceed in due course to an election that would be internationally accepted and supervised by the United Nations.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanIf the Prime Minister—provided that he is in a position to accept such reports—receives reports from the international observers who are going to the Rhodesian elections 1687 that those elections are free and fair, will he take steps—provided that he is in a position to take any steps at all—to inform his Back Benchers and his Government that that ought to be a reasonable criterion for saying that the elections have been properly conducted?
§ The Prime MinisterAny question that contains so many"ifs"is bound to be hypothetical, and it is not my responsibility to answer such questions. But clearly, the answer that I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lunch-field and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott) holds good for this question also.