§ 9. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the security of British diplomats abroad.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Ray Whitney)Security arrangements for British officials serving overseas are kept under constant review in the light of the known threat. We take this matter very seriously. The need to do so was illustrated most recently in Athens. The tragic and senseless murder of Mr. Kenneth Whitty will be deplored by the whole House which will. I feel sure, wish to register its deepest sympathy with Mrs. Whitty and her family.
§ Mr. McKayI thank the Minister for his reply. Following the closure of the embassy and the withdrawal of the diplomats from Libya—and, I understand, the acceptance by Italy to act as our mediator in that territory—what instructions or advice have been given to the United Kingdom citizens in Libya, and what arrangements are being' made to bring them home if the situation deteriorates?
§ Mr. WhitneyThe House will be aware that my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is to make a statement about the situation in the Libyan People's Bureau, as it called, in London and on the state of affairs in Tripoli. We have issued advice to British residents in Libya.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleIs there any truth in newspaper reports today that the Libyan authorities are trying to prevent the movement of diplomats out of Libya? If so, will the Government remind the Libyans that that would be a complete breach of the Vienna convention?
§ Mr. WhitneyI agree with my right hon. and learned Friend that that would indeed be a breach of the Vienna convention. I ask the House, however, to await the statement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, which is to follow Question Time.
§ Mr. StanbrookDoes my hon. Friend agree that threats against the personal safety of diplomats are to some extent an occupational hazard and that international relations should not be conducted or determined on the basis of such events? Does he further agree that the proper course is to co-operate with like-minded states in having nothing to do with those states which refuse to accept the normal standards of civilised behaviour in these matters?
§ Mr. WhitneyI certainly accept that it is essential that we co-operate with all like-minded states to ensure proper adherence to the conventions. The Vienna convention facilitates, and is indeed the prerequisite of, sensible relations between individual nations.
§ Mr. HealeyI understand that the Home Secretary is to make a general statement on the affair between Her Majesty's Government and Libya, but will the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answer two specific questions of Foreign Office concern? First, is he satisfied that the Italian Government have sufficient personnel in Tripoli to handle the potentially massive responsibilities that will fall on Italy as the protecting power with the addition of some 8,000 British citizens to the 14,000 Italian citizens for whose interests the Italian authorities are already responsible? Secondly, has the hon. Gentleman any reason to doubt that the Libyan authorities will allow existing British personnel and their families to leave Libya by the end of the week?
§ Mr. WhitneyI believe that it will be for the benefit of the House to await the statement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, who will seek to cover both the Home Office points and the Foreign Office points to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. In general, I can tell the House that we are grateful to the Italian Government for agreeing to act as the protecting power. We are hopeful that the arrangements that we are making for our own people in Libya and the advice that we have given to diplomatic personnel and to other British subjects in Libya will ensure their safety.