§ 3. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Government of the United States of America; and what subjects were discussed.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI last did so when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I met Vice-President George Bush during his visit to London from 2 to 3 July. The principal topics discussed were international terrorism, East-West trade, East-West relations and international trade issues.
§ Mr. CanavanWhat discussions or recent communications have there been between the British and American Governments about possible concerted action by both Governments to reject the legitimate calls for economic sanctions against South Africa? Is it not absolutely deplorable that once more the British Government are deserting our true friends in the Commonwealth in order to kowtow to Ronald Reagan in support of the continuance of economic relations which in effect will bolster the evil apartheid regime which is directly responsible for the recent bloodshed and other atrocities during the current emergency in South Africa?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI join the hon. Gentleman in condemning apartheid wholeheartedly and without qualification, but at that point I must part company from his insight into international affairs. I cannot believe that he seriously imagines that our view about the wisdom of economic sanctions is dictated by a determination to kowtow to President Reagan or to anybody else. We wish progress to be made in order to secure the removal of apartheid, but we believe that the imposition of economic sanctions would not help in that direction but would have the contrary effect.
§ Mr. HickmetIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the United States Government propose to impose curbs on steel imports from 1 August 1985? Is he also aware that imports from the European Community into the United States are the result of rigidities and inefficiencies in the steel manufacturing sector in the United States? Is it not unfair that because high American interest rates fund their massive budget deficit, which provides an opening for the import of European steel into their market, they should propose to block such imports? What action will my right hon. and learned Friend take about this and what representations will he make to his opposite number in the United States Government?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to steel imports as one of the areas where the United States is threatening to take restrictive action if agreement cannot be reached with the European Community. We believe that the United States should refrain from taking unilateral action in such areas. It is important for such disagreements to be handled bilaterally between the European Community and the United States. The exchange rate of the dollar, to which the size of the United States federal deficit makes a significant contribution, is an important factor.
§ Mr. DeakinsDid the Foreign Secretary discuss with Vice-President Bush how to cope with the growing volume of popular pressure in both the United States and Britain for the imposition of some form of economic sanctions on 1025 South Africa? If so, what conclusions did they reach as representatives of two Governments who, in this sense, are beleaguered minorities in their own countries?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe hon. Gentleman must speak for himself in judging the scale of pressure for action of that kind in this country. However, on this issue the view of the United States is the same as our own: that although we profoundly detest and deplore apartheid and all its manifestations, we do not believe that the imposition of economic sanctions would be helpful either in helping to remove apartheid or in promoting the interests of the people who are most adversely affected by it.
§ Sir John FarrSince most hon. Members agree with my right hon. and learned Friend that economic sanctions against South Africa would be unhelpful and unrewarding, will he assure the House that he took the opportunity when he met Vice-President Bush to express very clearly Her Majesty's Government's views?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe two Governments are in constant touch with each other on this topic. In the context of the United Nations and of bilateral contacts we have no doubt about each other's views.
§ Mr. George RobertsonOn the subject of contacts with the American Government, what precisely is the function of the current visit to America by the Secretary of State for Defence? Why is he going round the United States trying to lick up the gravy of the star wars programme when the Foreign Secretary and all his European counterparts seemed openly to express widespread doubts about the strategic defence initiative?
Will the Secretary of State comment on the reports that the United States Congress has already been notified that a phased array radar system is to be installed at Fylingdales in Yorkshire, along similar lines to the much criticised phased array radar at Krasnoyarsk in the Soviet Union?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe hon. Gentleman is extending his range of curiosity widely this afternoon——
§ Mr. RobertsonWhy not?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI am always here to satisfy, as far as I can. Let me take the hon. Gentleman's second point first. Any decisions to modernise existing radar establishments, including the one at Fylingdales, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, and would be undertaken in any event in compliance with existing treaty obligations.
On the hon. Gentleman's first point, all the countries of the Western European Union have commissioned the Council to co-ordinate their reactions to the American invitation to participate in SDI research — a research programme which most members of the WEU support. The visit by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to Washington, which is now over—he returned last night — was designed to give practical impetus to the exploration of ways in which British companies can participate in the research programme.