HL Deb 11 July 1966 vol 276 cc6-7
LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are prepared, when negotiations on Gibraltar are resumed this week, to adopt a firmer attitude towards the Spanish Government than merely an expression of regret that British and other tourists are being unduly delayed and distressed at the frontier at La Linea.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OE STATE Fort FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, it would not be right for me to anticipate in any detail the line which will be taken by the British delegation when the talks with Spain on Gibraltar are resumed to-morrow. But I can assure the noble Lord that my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary made clear at the opening of the talks on May 18 that we wish the restrictions at the frontier to be removed. We shall continue to press this point.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that answer—which does not go very far; but I can understand the difficulties in his going further. If the talks are resumed under the shadow of these somewhat intolerable frontier conditions following, as they do, on the further restriction imposed in mid-June last on United Kingdom residents in the Campo area of Spain, would the noble Lord not agree that many in this country, in Gibraltar and elsewhere abroad, would consider that Her Majesty's Government, in resuming these discussions, were acting from a position of weakness?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that we are not acting from a position of weakness, but that we consider that the best way to resolve disputes between any civilised nations is by talking rather than by any other means.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, might I ask my noble friend whether, since these negotiations first began, there has been relaxation of any kind of restrictions at the border?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I am sorry to say that up to the present time there have been no relaxations.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, while agreeing with the noble Lord that we must not pre-judge these negotiations, may I ask whether he would not accept that the attitude of the Argentine Government towards the postal services in the Falkland Islands suggests that if we give the impression to the world that we are prepared to negotiate under duress we shall find a continuation of these events as long as this situation exists?

LORD WALSTON

No, my Lords, I would not agree with that.