HC Deb 18 March 1981 vol 1 cc269-71
2. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations he has had with the United Kingdom's European partners with a view to formulating a common policy on the problem of El Salvador.

Mr. Ridley

The subject of El Salvador has been considered at official level within the political cooperation framework, and will shortly be discussed by Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Hamilton

Will the Minister confirm the reports that appeared in some of this morning's newspapers to the effect that the EEC has unfrozen aid to El Salvador despite the representations made by the United States of America? Does not he agree that the sooner we dissociate ourselves as far as possible from the policies of the United States of America on Latin America in general, and on El Salvador in particular, the better?

Mr. Ridley

The EEC has agreed to provide 400,000 ECUs in cash, and 1,050 tonnes of cereals to the Red Cross in order to relieve the suffering of refugees in El Salvador. Assurances have been given that the aid will reach those for whom it is intended, namely, the refugees. Our policy on El Salvador was set out in a statement, which my right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign Secretary made just before he left for Washington.

Mr. Stokes

What interests does the United Kingdom have in El Salvador? If those interests are nil, should not we direct out attention to countries with which we have closer connections?

Mr. Ridley

It is true that historically and traditionally we have not had great contact with or interests in El Salvador. However, everybody must be concerned about the savage civil war that is being fought there. We should like to do anything that we can to help. However, it is not an area in which we are principally concerned.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

What powers or rights has the EEC, as such, in these matters?

Mr. Ridley

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the EEC operates a considerable aid programme. Quite rightly, it has directed aid to the refugees. It has directed aid not to either side of the dispute, but towards the relief of distress among refugees.

Mr. Healey

Is it not the case that the strengthening of militarist regimes in Central America could well he a threat to the agreement on Belize which the hon. Gentleman announced to the House yesterday?

With regard to El Salvador in particular, now that even the State Department has admitted that the hullabaloo over Communist arms to El Salvador was grossly exaggerated, and America can declare a victory on that matter whenever it wishes, is it not in the interests of this country, and of all countries which wish for peace in the world, to concentrate their efforts on trying to get negotiations for a peaceful conclusion to the civil war, with support from members of the European Community or, indeed, El Salvador's neighbours, such as Panama, Mexico and Guatemala?

Mr. Ridley

We have made clear—I quote from the statement—that Her Majesty's Government consider that the people of El Salvador should be able to determine their own future peacefully and democratically. I must also point out to the right hon. Gentleman that the President of El Salvador, Mr. Duarte, has called for elections next year, and that the Americans are trying to help him to procure those elections even earlier.[Interruption.] That is something that the right hon. Gentleman should welcome, even if those behind him do not.

Mr. Healey

I think that there is no one in this House who would not welcome free and fair elections in El Salvador, the results of which were respected by the military junta there, unlike the results of the last election in El Salvador. But the case still remains that there will not be a peaceful end to the civil war without negotiation between the two sides, with some support from friendly countries outside. Why will not the Government support these efforts?

Mr. Ridley

We are happy to support any chance that talks would bring peace between the sides. What I question is whether this is the right moment and whether we are the right people to initiate such talks, particularly as we have very few historical or traditional ties with El Salvador.

The right hon. Gentleman must be convinced, as I have been, that the Communists have been supplying large quantities of arms to the other side, and that has greatly exacerbated the difficulty and made a solution of the dispute infinitely more difficult.

Mr. Budgen

Did my hon. Friend notice that, in relation to Afghanistan, the nation States of the EEC demonstrated completely divergent views and interests? Will he not agree that it is now necessary to adopt a national attitude towards these various problems rather than to attempt a pretentious EEC solution?

Mr. Ridley

While I do not accept what my hon. Friend said about Afghanistan, I think that the countries of the EEC are acting in concert over El Salvador. There is no suggestion at the present time that they are putting themselves forward to mediate in the dispute, but equally there is no dispute between them about the situation there.