HL Deb 01 May 1967 vol 282 cc695-7

2.39 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

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 what is the attitude of their representatives and of the British delegation at the Council of Europe at Strasbourg to the motion deploring the military coup in Greece and, in particular, in view of the detention without trial of members of the democratic Opposition, including a respected ex-Prime Minister, to the proposal that the Committee of Ministers should pursue the matter through the European Human Rights Convention which has been ratified by the Government of Greece.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted an Order on the subject of Greece on April 26. No recommendations on the subject have been put to or considered by the Committee of Ministers, on which Her Majesty's Government are represented. But Her Majesty's Government have of course noted what was said in the Consultative Assembly, which evidently reflected the widespread concern among Greece's friends and allies over the troubles which she has been undergoing, and the particular concern of European Parliamentarians over the future of Parliamentary democracy in Greece.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask him, first, how the representatives of the British Government and the British delegation voted on the resolution; and, secondly, whether he will press for the European Human Rights Convention to be applied to the many hundreds of political prisoners in Greece now, including not only the Left but even the ex-Prime Minister of the Centre?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, so far as the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question is concerned, delegates in the Consultative Assembly vote on their own responsibility. So far as the situation in Greece is concerned, this is developing from day to day, and I think it would be wrong at this stage for us to try to pass any positive or considered judgment on what has happened there, or is happening or might happen in the future. I understand, however, that a Minister of the new Greek Government has said that prominent political detainees will shortly be released, and that the thousands of persons detained for security reasons will have their cases reviewed in the near future.

LORD BROCKWAY

But, my Lords, is not much more at stake than this? Has not a military coup sabotaged a democratic election in Greece? Could my noble friend tell me how the British delegation voted on this resolution (about which he has not informed me), and also whether the Government are going to be satisfied with the absolute outrage against the Human Rights Convention which has been committed in Greece?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, so far as the votes of the delegates in the Assembly are concerned, I will let my noble friend have that information. I do not have it at the moment, because, as I say, these delegates vote on their own responsibility. So far as the general situation in Greece is concerned, I believe that it would be wrong, and might be counter-productive, to pass any judgment at this stage. The whole situation in Greece is in a state of flux. We may all have our hopes, our sincere hopes, about what may happen, but I believe that to make positive statements now might be provocative and could exacerbate the situation in Greece instead of allowing it to develop in a way in which I hope—and we all hope—in the end will give satisfaction to us.

BARONESS HORSBRUGH

My Lords, having told us that the individual delegates vote on their own point of view, will the noble Lord confirm that it is also the case that the delegation are chosen from all three Parties in the House and that each delegate is therefore free, apart from any Party alliance, to vote as he or she thinks fit?

LORD CHALFONT

Yes, my Lords, of course that is so; nevertheless, I shall inform my noble friend how they voted.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, could the Minister give us an assurance that, deplorable as it is that people should be kept in prison without trial in Greece, Her Majesty's Government are equally concerned about the situation in other parts of the world, such as in Tanzania and other parts of Africa, where British citizens are kept in prison without trial?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course Her Majesty's Government are always concerned about the human rights of individuals all over the world. We shall endeavour always on these occasions to make our views known.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, could the noble Lord assure us that this affair in Greece is not having any harmful effect on NATO?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I think it would be presumptuous of me to give any such assurance. All that I can say at this stage, on my own behalf and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, is that it is naturally a source of great concern to us that a friend and ally of ours should be going through these troubles.