HL Deb 18 April 1967 vol 282 cc106-7

3.51 p.m.

LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they agree with and support a statement attributed to the former Attorney General of a Member of the Commonwealth, namely Sierra Leone—"that in International Law if a Government is effective, it will be recognised".]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)

My Lords, the general practice that Her Majesty's Government follow in regard to sovereign States is to recognise a Government when Her Majesty's Government consider that a new Government enjoys, with a reasonable prospect of permanence, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of much the greater part of the territory of the State concerned. Her Majesty's Government must, of course, also take due account of special circumstances relating to any specific instances, including any United Nations or any other international action.

LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for that interesting reply. May I ask him one further question? Do Her Majesty's Government consider the National Reformation Council in Sierra Leone to be legal, or illegal?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the Question which the noble Lord asked on the Order Paper is a general one. The next question relates specifically to Sierra Leone, and I suggest the noble Lord should put questions on Sierra Leone supplementary to the next Question.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, following the noble and learned Lord's first Answer, that Her Majesty's Government recognise Governments of countries where certain circumstances exist including representation of the majority opinion of the people in the country, may I ask whether it is to be understood that the revolutionary regimes recognised in Ghana and Nigeria clearly have the popular support of the majority of the population?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I said that those are facts, among many others, which the Government have to take into account.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, are the Government therefore satisfied, in both cases, that despite the character of the revolutionary Government and the bloodshed, these regimes have the majority support of the population in those two countries?