HC Deb 09 November 1983 vol 48 cc285-7
1. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he intends to discuss with representatives of the United States Government at his next meeting with them; and whether he intends to visit Washington for this purpose.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Ray Whitney)

The subjects for discussion at my right hon. and learned Friend's next meeting with representatives of the United States Government will depend on the circumstances at the time. There is a wide range of international and bilateral questions of common interest. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to visit Washington in the near future.

Mr. Flannery

Does the Minister accept that there is no dearth of subjects for discussion with either the American Secretary of State or the President? Does he also accept that the belligerent attitude being adopted on a world scale by the United States is regarded by millions of people throughout the globe as very dangerous for all mankind? Will the Foreign Secretary discuss with the President the position in the Lebanon and Central America? Will he try to persuade the President, through his Secretary of State, to adopt a less belligerent posture and on no account to attack those countries, because many people will he dragged into the maelstrom if the United States does anything so silly?

Mr. Whitney

I am happy to agree with the hon. Gentleman that there is no dearth of common interests and subjects for discussion with the United States.

President Reagan and the United States Administration have made it clear that their objectives are to establish peace and economic progress in Central America.

The main objective of the United States forces in the Lebanon is to obtain peace. Those forces have a right to self-defence. Britain shares those objectives and they are being pursued in conjunction with our United States allies.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I appeal to hon. Members to ask shorter supplementary questions.

Sir Peter Blaker

In spite of the regrettable differences of opinion that we have had with the United States Administration on several matters in recent days, will my hon. Friend confirm that Her Majesty's Government still attach first importance to developing and maintaining our very close relationship with the United States within the NATO Alliance?

Mr. Whitney

I am pleased to confirm that that is the Government's position. I am certain that that view is shared on the other side of the Atlantic. Most hon. Members are ready to recognise the immense contribution that the Alliance has made to maintaining peace and security in western Europe. I am convinced that it will continue to do so.

Mr. Donald Stewart

Whatever may be the necessity for our close alliance with the United States, does the Minister accept that many people are extremely alarmed by the recent trigger-happy response of the American President? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that if action is taken against any South American countries or the Lebanon the United Kingdom Government should not be seen to support such adventures? Does the Minister also agree that President Reagan should be informed that international diplomacy requires a more sophisticated approach than telling the Russians to be out of town before sundown?

Mr. Whitney

I can only repeat the gist of the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery). The clear objective of the United States in Central America is to establish economic progress and peace. The same objectives apply to the Lebanon. The United States is aware that Britain shares those objectives. Our views on the conduct of international diplomacy have been well expressed to the United States Government.

Mr. Bowen Wells

When my right hon. and learned Friend is having discussions with the American Administration, will he join the people of Grenada in welcoming their liberation from the oppressive regime under which they suffered? Will he, at the same time, make plans with the United States Administration to support and aid economically the establishment of a democratic Government in Grenada, which will serve its people in a democratic way?

Mr. Whitney

We certainly recognise that the effect of the situation in Grenada is to provide an opportunity for the re-establishment of constitutional democracy. Her Majesty's Government stand ready to help in that process.

Mr. Healey

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on reciting so eloquently the products of the Foreign Office word processor which, in an earlier incarnation, he helped to construct.

First, do the Government approve the shift to an anti-Arab policy in the middle east by the United States in the past few days? Secondly, will they try to persuade the United States Administration not to use the arguments that they used for the invasion of Grenada to invade other countries in Central America, such as Nicaragua?

Mr. Whitney

I regret that the right hon. Gentleman has turned his word processor back and no longer advances the views about the importance of the American contribution to which we were accustomed when he was in government.

The right hon. Gentleman is premature, as he has been on other occasions in recent days, in referring to an anti-Arab stance by the United States Government. The objective of the United States Government and of the British Government is to establish peace both in the middle east and in Central America. I advise the right hon. Gentleman to switch on his word processor, to read the American statements and to consider the fact that United States economic aid to Central America is three times greater than its military aid.

Mr. Healey

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his attempt to turn my phrase, but licking the United States' boots is no recipe for good relations between the United Kingdom and America, which I support as much as, I hope, he does.

The hon. Gentleman said that I was premature in referring to the American shift to an anti-Arab stance. Does that mean that we may expect it to occur this week or next week?

Mr. Whitney

Licking United States' boots was not a phrase used by the right hon. Gentleman last week when we were under attack for failing not only to lick boots but to agree with the American action in Grenada. The Government are very clear on that. Distinguished though he is, the right hon. Gentleman cannot have it both ways. In earlier years he expressed great loyalty and support for the United States. His new manifestation is a matter for regret.