§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise in the United Nations as a threat to world peace the aggression by South Africa against Mozambique.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise in the United Nations as a threat to world peace the recent and continuing violations of the territorial integrity of Angola and Mozambique by South Africa.
§ Mr. LuceNo, Sir. This is for the Governments directly concerned. We deplore violence from any quarter in the search for solutions to the problems of Southern Africa. Raids into Angola are a symptom of the Namibia conflict to the peaceful settlement of which we and other Governments continue to devote our efforts.
§ Miss LestorBearing in mind that there is a United Nations resolution on South African aggression in Angola, saying that if that aggression continued anywhere, it would take action, and bearing in mind that my question was about Mozambique and not Angola, does not the Minister believe that if the Government take the attitude that they would probably veto any suggested action by the United Nations, that is giving South Africa carte blanche to behave as it wishes?
§ Mr. LuceI can only reiterate that our minds must be constructive on how we can best bring about peace in that part of the world. I have already made it plain that the Government believe that the general imposition of sanctions does not and is not likely to contribute to a peaceful settlement. Our minds should be on that. With regard to raids into one country or another, we wholly condemn acts of violence, from whatever source they come.
§ Mr. Robert HughesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the invasions of both Angola and Mozambique are part of a sustained campaign against those countries? Is he not aware that it seems likely that the South African Prime Minister is trying to buy an election victory with the blood of innocent South African people in Mozambique and Angola? How can he say that the peace and stability of South Africa can be enhanced when it flouts all international opinion and carries on in the way it has done?
§ Mr. LuceI reiterate that it is argued, as the hon. Gentleman has done, that any acts of violence are not conducive to bringing about peace in that part of the world. We wholly and strongly condemn them.
§ Mr. WallIs it not a fact that there have been continuous raids from Angola into Ovamboland, and from Mozambique to Kwa Zulu, including the murder of many prominent men in Ovamboland and people like Chief Kapuuo? Will he ask the hon. Lady if she will consult her friends in Havana and Moscow and ask them to desist from these threats to peace?
§ Mr. LuceViolence is coming from all sources. That is why it is urgent that we should work as hard as possible for a negotiated settlement.
§ Mr. MaclennanDoes the Minister recognise that the issue is not simply that acts of violence are not conducive to peace but that incursions into Angola and Mozambique are a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter? Does he recognise that as signatories and members of the Security Council we have a peculiar responsibility for ensuring that such violations do not occur?
§ Mr. LuceI agree with the hon. Gentleman that that sort of violence is to be deplored, but it is up to the countries concerned to decide. He referred to Angola and Mozambique. It is up to those countries to decide what measures they wish to take. Surely that is the point of having independent countries.
§ Sir Anthony KershawWould not the departure of many thousands of Cuban troops from Angola be a notable contribution to the peace of that area?
§ Mr. LuceI endorse what my hon. Friend has said. There is no shadow of doubt that whether we are talking about Southern Africa or the Horn of Africa, the intrusion of the Soviet Union and her satellites, from whatever source, is wholly destructive.