§ 2.50 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many countries there are outside the Commonwealth in which—
- (a) the Government exists de facto and notde jure; and
- (b) such Government is recognised by Her Majesty' Government.]
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, there are no such countries.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, would the noble Lord say what is the situation in regard to the Dominican Republic?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, the Dominican Republic, so far as I am aware, has a Government which is bothde jure and de facto.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, am Ito understand the noble Lord to say that there are no countries in the category specified in the Question with which the United Kingdom has diplomatic relations? There must he many countries which do not havede jure Governments butde facto Governments—countries like Iraq, which suddenly kill the whole of their Royal Family, and whose new Government the United Kingdom recognise before the blood is dry.