§ 6. Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the Republic of South Africa.
§ Mr. OnslowWe have normal diplomatic relations with South Africa. In this context we continue to attach importance to the early attainment of an internationally recognised settlement in Namibia and to peaceful change in South Africa.
§ Mr. ProctorWill my hon. Friend set out the Government's view about the proposed transfer of Ingwavuma from the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom of Swaziland?
§ Mr. OnslowWe have no standing in that matter. What is likely to happen following the recent decision of the South African courts seems far from clear.
§ Mr. HealeyWill not the attempt by the South African Government to rob the Zulus of part of their homeland be bound to impede the process of peaceful change, to which the Government have just attached importance? Is that not especially so in the light of the fact that Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, the leader of the Zulus and the outstanding leader of those Africans who are free politically to express 279 their views in South Africa, has already warned that he will not seek to dissuade his people from violent resistance to such robbery?
§ Mr. OnslowI note without comment what the right hon. Gentleman said. He will appreciate that territorial changes without the free consultation of the inhabitants concerned do not greatly commend themselves to us.
§ Mr. John CarlisleDoes my hon. Friend agree that relations between ourselves and Southern Africa would be improved vastly if we renewed sporting contacts and if they were encouraged by the British Government? Does he further agree that as so many sports there are completely racially integrated, the time has come to amend or abolish the Gleneagles agreement?
§ Mr. OnslowMy hon. Friend will know the origins and scope of the Gleneagles agreement. So long as South African laws and institutions are based on racial discrimination, that must be reflected in their participation in international sport.
§ Mr. HooleyWhat practical progress is being made by the Western contact group on independence for Namibia? Has not the merry-go-round gone on long enough? Is it not time that the Western Powers brought some effective pressure to bear on South Africa to implement the plan which it agreed in principle two years ago?
§ Mr. OnslowI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman does not recollect that when he last asked that question I told him that it was not our intention to hang about. There has been progress. If the hon. Gentleman has been following the reports, he will know that the Five have made good progress in resolving outstanding issues and that we are intensifying informal consultations with the parties concerned. A fresh series of meetings started in New York yesterday. I hope that they will move to a successful conclusion.