§ Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)(by private notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has given to the urgent appeal made to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho asking for help in dealing with the obstruction of supply routes by the South African Government.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mrs. Lynda Chalker)We view this matter very seriously indeed. We do not believe that the problems between South Africa and Lesotho can be resolved by coercion. We are making known to the South African Government our concern that the restrictions on border traffic should be lifted and that both sides should embark on a dialogue to resolve their differences without delay.
§ Mr. BeithI welcome the Minister of State on her promotion to her present office and hope that she will exercise a good influence on Government policy. Does she recognise that as Lesotho—our Commonwealth partner—is entirely surrounded by South Africa and has to import virtually all its food, fuel and essential goods from South Africa, it cannot survive an economic blockade? Does she also realise that the delaying tactics being used by the South African Government are preventing virtually all the supplies from getting through? What pressure is she prepared to use to follow up the protest that has been made, in order to secure an end to the blockade? If pressure does not work, are the Government prepared to give practical help to ensure that in an extreme situation—the situation is becoming more extreme all the time—emergency supplies can be got into Lesotho? Does she agree that it is essential that this blockade should not be allowed to take away the independence of Lesotho?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI thank the hon. Gentleman for his initial remarks. We are very well aware of how dependent Lesotho is upon South Africa. We are also aware that blockading that country will have to cease. We shall look at ways of assisting them, and we shall shortly be replying to the letter that the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Jonathan, addressed to the Prime Minister yesterday. We shall continue to urge the South African Government to respect fully the independence and territorial integrity of its neighbours, and we shall continue to urge on all countries in the region the need for dialogue and the suspension of violence, as called for in the Commonwealth accord.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davison (Epping Forest)I welcome my hon. Friend to her new responsibilities. May I ask her what justification is offered by South Africa for the blockade? Since Lesotho is a partner in the Commonwealth, what contact have Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had with other Commonwealth Governments about a resolution of the matter?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. We know of no justification for the action. Of course, we have been in contact with our Commonwealth neighbours. The Commonwealth accord was agreed and we have kept in touch with those countries since. We shall continue with our partners in the Commonwealth to urge the South African Government to seek a solution through dialogue with neighbouring countries.
§ Mr. Tom Clarke (Monklands, West)Is the Minister aware that the hon. Members who visited Botswana after the infamous raid on Gaborone regard the intimidation by the South African Government against neighbouring Commonwealth countries as entirely repugnant? Can we give an assurance to those Commonwealth countries that we find South Africa's invasion and intimidation unacceptable? Even if we cannot bring ourselves to impose sanctions, will we assure world opinion about our firm opinion?
§ Mrs. ChalkerIndeed. The hon. Member knows that we find the action repugnant. We deeply regret the land mine incidents and accompanying loss of life. We shall continue to condemn all acts of violence from whatever quarter they may come. We shall do all we can to ensure that the unacceptable position is brought to a swift and lasting conclusion.
§ Mr. Anderson (Swansea, East)The Opposition warmly welcome the hon. Lady to her new post. A friendly, landlocked Commonwealth country has been blockaded since 1 January by a bullying neighbour. Have the Government been in close touch with the United States, since the appeal from the Prime Minister of Lesotho about the possible provision of commodities was also addressed to President Reagan? Is it the reading of the Government that this is part of a wider attempt to destabilise Lesotho politically and to force it to agree to a security pact? Are the Government aware that other front-line states adjoining South Africa are anxious about possible military intervention either by the South African defence forces or by agents of South Africa, as happened when nine opponents of apartheid were killed in Lesotho just before Christmas? What representations have been made by our ambassador in Pretoria to South Africa urging restraint in any further military adventures over its borders?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI thank the hon. Gentleman for what he said. We are in close touch with the Government of the United States. Tomorrow I shall be seeing Dr. Crocker on his return from South Africa and I shall raise the matter with him. The action is seen as an attempt to destabilise Lesotho. We understand the anxiety of other front-line states at what may be anticipated from the purveyors of violence, wherever they may come from. Representations will be made by Her Majesty's ambassador. I have no doubt that we shall be speaking about that shortly.