§ 8. Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet representatives of the Chilean Government.
§ Mr. WhitneyMy right hon. and learned Friend has at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. FatchettWill the Foreign Secretary consider having an early meeting with the Chilean Government to press upon them the continuing violation of human rights in Chile and also to make clear to the dictatorship that the view of the British people is that if these violations continue we should sever all links between this Government and the dictatorship in Chile?
§ Mr. WhitneyWe regularly make clear our concern about the observance- of human rights and the continued violation of human rights in Chile. Only last week we voted in favour of the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. This called on the Chilean authorities to respect human rights and to extend for a further year the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur.
§ Mr. LawrenceIs my hon. Friend aware that if Opposition Members were to swallow their paranoia and go to Chile they would themselves be able to make those representations on human rights, and probably with more effect than they have done from their armchairs in the Tea Room? Does he agree that if they went to Chile they would be able to give some assistance to the Centre-Left party, which wants very much to come quickly to democracy?
§ Mr. WhitneyI am happy to agree with my hon. and learned Friend. I add that if Opposition Members were to swallow their paranoia on everything, they would suffer from considerable indigestion.
§ Mr. WinnickWe on this side do not intend to go to Chile on trips that are paid for by the authorities. Can the Minister tell the House what steps will be taken to try to persuade the Chilean authorities to expel Rauff, the notorious Nazi war criminal and mass murderer, so that he may stand trial in West Germany? Is it intended simply to accept "No" from the Chilean junta, or will the British Government press the United States in particular to exert pressure on the Chilean authorities?
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have supported the request by the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States Government to the Chilean Government to permit the extradition and expulsion of Walter Rauff. The Chilean Government's reply rejecting that request has been received only recently, and is being studied.
§ Mr. AndersonThe Minister will know that we welcome the United Nations vote as a recognition by the Government of a further deterioration in the human rights record of the Pinochet regime. Moving from the human rights record to the Chilean naval contract and others, is it true that the Chilean navy has concluded negotiations for the purchase of HMS Hermes, HMS Antrim, two type 22 frigates and 24 Sea Harriers?
§ Mr. WhitneyThere has been no development on those potential arms sales negotiations since the reply of my right hon. and learned Friend on 7 December. Certain negotiations are in process, but none has been concluded.