§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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, in view of the fact that the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs has recently handed to M. Antonio Iturmendi, President of the Cortes, the second Spanish Red Book on Gibraltar, they will lay before Parliament a White Paper refuting the Spanish arguments and reiterating the British case.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)Not at present, my Lords. The British case over Gibraltar has been amply documented in three White Papers—Commands 2632, 3131 and 3325. But the need for a further White Paper will, of course, be kept under review.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for the final part of his Answer. Whilst Her Majesty's Government are keeping this question under review, would the noble Lord not agree that it would be in this country's interest to publicise our case to a greater extent, whether it be by 126 refuting the Spanish arguments on the Algeciras prohibited area, on the referendum, on their so-called worldwide support by the Press or on their references to the naval and air base; or, finally—and I think this is important—by showing up some of their arguments, which I believe are tantamount to recolonisation proposals for Gibraltar?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, this second Spanish Red Book, to which reference has been made, is almost 1,000 pages long. No English translation has yet been made available, but from the examination of it that we have been able to make it does not seem to contain anything which is not already familiar in the Spanish case. As I have said, Nye will bear in mind the possible need for yet a fourth White Paper on this subject, and we will certainly take into account what the noble Lord has said about keeping our views in front of public opinion.
§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, in view of the fact that these Spanish Red Books get quite a wide circulation in the world, would not the noble Lord reconsider this matter of producing a further While Paper and also of sponsoring for it at least as wide a circulation in the world as the Red Books get?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I will certainly bear that in mind. As I have said, we will keep this possibility under review and take account of what is said in your Lordships' House.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government give a further unequivocal assurance that it is not their intention to hand over Gibraltar and the Gibraltarians to Spain, in any circumstances?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, our position on sovereignty is quite clear. We will not go into talks on the basis that sovereignty over Gibraltar is to be transferred to Spain. We are determined that the views of the inhabitants, and where their interests lie, shall not be ignored.