§ 3. Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has taken any steps to improve relations with the Government of Argentina since the announcement of the Falkland Islands exclusive fishing zone.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Geoffrey Howe)While making it plain that sovereignty is not for negotiation, I have repeatedly reaffirmed our willingness to work for a multilateral solution on fisheries and for progress on other practical issues.
§ Mr. MeadowcroftIs it not within the great traditions of British diplomacy and foreign policy that if, when faced with a change of Government towards democracy in a country with which we have been in conflict, and with a conciliatory and flexible response such as we had from that Government on 17 November, we should be prepared to make a detailed form of response to that Government to engage in discussions? Should we not contemplate a solution to an intractible problem that is costing the country many millions of pounds each year?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweIt would be in accordance with the high traditions of diplomacy, to which the hon. Gentleman has kindly referred, and in the tradition of sensible diplomacy, not to embark on any discussions on the basis of any false premise or false expectations, which is why we have always excluded from the agenda negotiation on sovereignty. Beyond that, the tables of my opposite number, Foreign Minister Caputo, and of President Alfonsin, are positively groaning with proposal after proposal for discussion of all the other issues of a wholly constructive kind.
§ Mr. CrouchMay I suggest to my right hon. and learned Friend that he should continue to stress the importance of our willingness to re-establish friendly relations with Argentina, notwithstanding our understandable—they should understand this too—feelings that there can be no question of discussion of sovereignty of the Falkland Islands at this stage? But a reiteration of our willingness to re-establish friendly relations with Argentina should continue, and I believe that it could be successful.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI entirely agree with the approach commended by my hon. Friend. Our position has consistently been that the intractible question of sovereignty should not stand in the way of the development of more normal relations in every other respect. Throughout my recent visit to Mexico, Columbia and other countries in the region I emphasised time and time again the approach commended by my hon. Friend. I think that our approach is widely and increasingly understood.
§ Mr. HaynesDoes the Foreign Secretary know what is going on down there? Is he aware that, unfortunately, I had to make a visit to the Falkland Islands where I met councillors who want to go back to the pre-1982 situation. If that is the case, why are we spending hundreds of millions of pounds down there, but refusing pensioners a free television licence?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweIt is always encouraging to receive a message from the hon. Gentleman couched in characteristically straightforward terms. The inhabitants of the Falkland Islands recognise that Argentina's actions in 1982 destroyed the foundations of the good relations that previously existed, and they look to Her Majesty's Government to provide defence on the basis on which we are prepared to go on doing so.
§ Mr. McLoughlinWill my right hon. and learned Friend reiterate today that the British Government would not have taken the action that they did in the exclusion zone if the Argentine Government had not steadfastly refused to have a multilateral agreement?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweIndeed. My hon. Friend is right. We emphasised over a long period our willingness and desire to establish a multilateral system of conservation. That is why we took the matter to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. We still want to move on from the present position to a more broadly agreed system of fishery conservation.
§ Mr. FoulkesWill the Foreign Secretary confirm that the American Government are worried about dangers that arise from the Soviet's failure to recognise the unilateral fisheries regime that he has declared? As the Foreign Secretary has reaffirmed that he would prefer a 876 multilateral agreement, why did he rebuff Argentina's approach of 17 November? Why is he not taking up the offer for informal talks in the United States now? Will he talk seriously with Mr. Habib, who, it is reported, will want to discuss the issue? What practical action will he take to obtain some agreement on this which will prevent the possibility of some clash arising with the Soviet vessels in the south Atlantic, which all of us want to avoid?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI am sure that everyone is anxious to avoid any clash arising in relation to fisheries conservation in the south Atlantic. That is why the clash that occurred between Argentine and Taiwanese vessels last year was a matter of such great regret. It is for that reason that we have been in touch with all the nations concerned in the region, including the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union has said that it will conduct itself in a fashion not inconsistent with our claims in the area, and a large number of nations, including, for example, Poland, have already, through their firms, applied for and been granted licences.
Beyond that, we are, of course, anxious to respond sensibly to any possibility of moving towards the establishment of a multilateral regime. It is a topic on which we make our view clear to many nations, as I have already said, and on which we hearken to the possibility of progress, but where we have to proceed with prudence if we are not to run the risk of abortive contact of the kind that took place in Berne some two years ago.