HL Deb 18 July 1967 vol 285 cc201-3

3.1 p.m.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, I desire to ask the following Question, of which I have given Private Notice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what reply has been received from the Algerian Government with regard to their continued detention of the two British pilots.

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, in response to our requests for Consular access, the Algerian Government yesterday granted the head of the British Interests Section in Algiers, who is also the Consul-General, an interview with the two pilots. They were both cheerful, and confirmed that they were in good health and that all their essential needs had been met. However, no replies have yet been received to our requests for the release of the two men. Her Majesty's Government are continuing their urgent representations about this, and will press for continued Consular access to the pilots meanwhile.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, while welcoming the information that after 18 days Her Majesty's Consul-General has been allowed access to the two pilots and has found them to be well, may I ask my noble friend whether he will indicate that Her Majesty's Government's patience is not inexhaustible and that they will consider consulting with the other Governments whose nationals are at present under detention, with a view, if necessary, to raising this matter at the Security Council under Article 34 of the Charter, as a matter which might well lead to international friction?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I appreciate and share the concern of the noble Lord in this question. I think that so far as further measures are concerned we might do better to hold our fire at the moment. After some considerable time we have been successful in our first aim of gaining Consular access to these two men. We shall continue to press for their release, but I hope your Lordships will accept that the question of further measures should not be too widely ventilated at the moment.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether any charge has been preferred against these men of an offence committed against the jurisdiction of Algeria? If no charge has been preferred, has any pretext been put forward for their continued deprivation of liberty, and is it now recognised that that is the responsibility of the Algerian Government? Also, will the noble Lord further confirm that there has been no ground put forward to justify the seizure of a British aircraft by the Algerian Government? Is anything being done about that, and if not, why not?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount for the positive nature of his question. I can make an equally positive answer, at least to the first part, which is that no charges have been brought against the pilots concerned, nor is there any evidence that the Algerian authorities plan to do so. Indeed, the pilots themselves told the head of the British Interests Section when they met that they have had no indication that they are likely to be charged. Of course, we realise that this is now a responsibility of the Algerian Government. We have made representations through every channel that is open to us at this moment to the Algerian Government, and we shall continue to do so, both in respect of the aircraft and the pilots.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, can the noble Lord advise the House whether the international air organisations have made any comment on this situation? I am thinking particularly of IATA and ICAO.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, so far as my information is concerned, no active interest has been taken in this case by either of the international organisations to which the noble Lord has referred.

LORD HANKEY

My Lords, will the Government consider presenting a claim for compensation to the Algerian Government in due course?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government will consider all these possibilities, but I ask your Lordships to accept that at this moment, when our aim is to obtain the release of these people, publicity for the things we are doing or are likely to do may have quite the opposite effect to that desired.