§ 3.25 p.m.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question, of which I have given Private Notice:
"Whether Her Majesty's Government can make any statement with regard to the present position in relation to recognition of the Zanzibar Government?"
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have been giving careful consideration to the 981 question of recognising the new authorities in Zanzibar. This has necessarily taken a certain amount of time, for two reasons. The first is that the internal position after the revolution has been somewhat obscure. The second is that, since Zanzibar is a member of the Commonwealth, the recognition of the new Government is a matter of more than usual significance and has necessitated consultation with other Commonwealth Governments. This exchange of views is now in progress and will, I hope, be completed within the next few days. Thereafter, we shall be able to make known our attitude on the question of recognition.
My right honourable friend the Commonwealth Secretary had hoped that, in the meantime, the British High Commissioner and his staff would have been allowed to remain in Zanzibar. However, yesterday the President of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar asked our High Commissioner to leave the island to-day. My right honourable friend at once sent Mr. Karume a personal message, explaining that the Commonwealth consultation was progressing and that an early decision on recognition might be expected. However, he replied that he did not feel able to withdraw his request for the High Commissioner's withdrawal until such time as recognition had been accorded. The British High Commissioner and his staff left Zanzibar this morning and are now in Dar es Salaam.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged for the Answer that the noble Lord has given. There are two points that I should like to put to him. First of all, has the High Commissioner been instructed to inform the head of the revolutionary Government of what is going on with regard to the matter of consultation? Secondly, in the light of what he has said in his answer, will he be able to make a further statement on this matter early next week?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition. I understand that in fact the High Commissioner had had consultations with President Karume on this subject. I will most certainly see that a statement is made in your Lord 982 ships' House as soon as there is something to say.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, may I ask whether there has been recognition by any other Commonwealth Government of the present Government of Zanzibar; and, if so, by which Government?
§ LORD CARRINGTONYes, my Lords; the Tanganyika, Uganda Kenya and Ghana Governments have recognised the new régime, and Ghana has established a diplomatic mission.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether if the consensus of Commonwealth opinion is like that already expressed in Africa, Her Majesty's Government will no longer hesitate to recognise the new Government of Zanzibar?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I do not think that I should anticipate what comes out of the Commonwealth consultations.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government are now importing, or are likely to import, into the Commonwealth consultations the same consideration that has long been considered in foreign affairs: that we can have de facto recognition without necessarily recognising de jure?
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I think that in this case it would probably be the same thing.