HC Deb 05 May 1982 vol 23 cc136-7
4. Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will review the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards those Governments which are dictatorships, following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina.

Mr. Pym

The policy of Her Majesty's Government towards all foreign Governments is kept under constant review.

Mr. Soley

Does the Foreign Secretary accept that it is high time that Britain and the West in general developed foreign policies that demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that we support democracies and oppose authoritarian dictatorships?

Mr. Pym

At the present time we are showing good evidence of doing just that.

Mr. Wilkinson

In reviewing the Government's policies towards countries which are under dictatorial rule, will the Government address themselves to the problem of the Eritrean people who are fighting against the armed might of the Ethiopian regime, which is backed by the Soviet Union? Will the Government also give assistance to the friendly Government of Somalia next door?

Mr. Pym

I shall consider what my hon. Friend has said about those two countries.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

Does the Foreign Secretary accept that his conversion against the dictatorship in the Argentine was a bit late? Does he further accept that when the present troubles are over it might be better if the Foreign Office were to review our relationships—particularly in regard to selling arms—with dictatorships around the world, especially those in Latin America, as the issue has now obviously changed?

Mr. Pym

There are degrees in everything, and it is difficult sometimes to draw a precise dividing line, but I think the House knows to what the hon. Gentleman is referring. I certainly do. Obviously, there may be a review of our relationships with some countries when the present particularly unfortunate incident is over. I shall keep in mind what the hon. Gentleman said.

Mr. Robert Atkins

When my right hon. Friend carries out that review, will he make it clear to all who read any report that emanates from it that Conservative and Labour Governments have sold arms to the Argentine? Will he also make it clear that members of the previous Labour Government were responsible for selling two type 42 frigates and a number of Canberras to the Argentine Republic and that many of them—particularly the right hon. Members for Brisol, South-East (Mr. Benn) and for Lanark (Dame Judith Hart)—were involved in the decision when it was taken?

Mr. Pym

It is fair to say that Conservative and Labour Governments have always kept their policies on the sale of arms under constant review. All applications for the sale of arms are considered on their merits. That policy applied to the previous Labour Government, as it does to the present Government. Sometimes things work out helpfully and at other times they work out otherwise. The subject is constantly under review. Undoubtedly, many countries have supplied arms to the Argentine in the last 10 or 20 years.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Is it not a fact that the Chilean junta is as bloodstained as the Argentinian junta? Why do the Government continue to enjoy friendly relations with the Chilean Government, especially as that Government have not offered a word of apology to the British Government for their assaults upon the freedom of British citizens in Chile?

Mr. Pym

Our policy is to have normal relations with Chile and other countries, consistent with British interests. In so doing we have left the Chilean Government in no doubt that their record on human rights has given rise to a great deal of concern here.