HC Deb 25 April 1984 vol 58 cc719-21
10. Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in bilateral negotiations with the Argentine Government.

Mr. Whitney

On 6 April the Swiss protecting power delivered our response to the Argentine comments on the specific ideas that we put forward on 26 January. We are ready for official talks on the normalisation of relations between our two countries. Such talks cannot include discussion of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Anderson

Is the Minister aware that in Paris yesterday Senor Caputo spoke in conciliatory terms about what he called a diplomatic dialogue with Britain and a policy of small steps? Will the Government now state clearly that they are prepared to enter into negotiations in the spirit suggested by Senor Caputo and on a two-tier basis, taking smaller, bilateral matters first and perhaps putting the whole subject of sovereignty on the back burner? Does the Minister agree that if the Government's response is seen to be both negative and tardy we shall risk losing the support of our European partners on this matter?

Mr. Whitney

I do not believe that the Government's initiatives can be described as tardy or lacking in forward movement, as it was our proposals in January which initiated the dialogue that we have sustained so far. As I have said, we now await the response to our reply of 6 April. I repeat, however, that none of the talks that we have proposed can include discussion of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Mr. McCrindle

Would there be any advantage in seeking to begin discussions on the possibility of increasing Anglo-Argentine trade, perhaps as a forerunner to the type of discussion to which my hon. Friend refers?

Mr. Whitney

I am happy to confirm that the Government are interested in the normalisation of many aspects of our relations with Argentina, and trade would certainly be foremost among those.

Mr. Dalyell

Is there not ominous evidence that the Argentine military have not gone away, in that the Argentine Government have ordered six submarines? Would it not be in our national interest to help the civilian Government of Mr. Caputo as much as possible? What is the British content—in terms of navigation equipment and other electronics — of the submarines built for Argentina in West Germany under licence to Buenos Aires?

Mr. Whitney

The policy of the Argentine Government on arms purchases is a matter for that Government. It is for us to ensure the security of the Falkland Islands. We very much look forward to a formal declaration by the Argentine Government of the cessation of hostilities and the renunciation of future force. I am not in a position to answer the technical part of the hon. Gentleman's question.

Dr. M.S. Miller

Some of the surface equipment built for Argentina came from this country. That being so, is the the hon. Gentleman happy about the fact that the new submarines are to be built in Germany?

Mr. Whitney

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about the content of the submarines. Our own relationship with Germany has been honoured in terms of the solidarity shown by West Germany, as by our other European allies, in our relations with Argentina.

Mr. Dykes

Is my hon. Friend, through the British interests section, pursuing the case of Daisy Hobson, a British citizen who has been incarcerated in Argentina for eight years, having been tried in a travesty of a case by the military junta? Will my hon. Friend assure the House that he will pursue this case and try to ensure an early release? There are signs that the new Government will release Daisy Hobson soon. For example, she is now held in an open prison.

Mr. Whitney

We are pursuing that case closely and hope very much that the action that is contemplated will be effective.

Mr. Deakins

Is it the policy of the Government that any bilateral talks with Argentina will cover the Falkland Island and not the Falkland Islands dependencies?

Mr. Whitney

Our interest is in restoring normal relations with Argentina. We are quite clear about our relationship, in terms of sovereignty, to the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Island dependencies.