§ 2.38 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy 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 have asked the Metropolitan Police to withdraw their invitation to Corporal Larry Farran, of Rhodesia, to enter the police open boxing championships, and, if so, why.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)Yes, my Lords. It is the Government's view that it would be inappropriate for bodies connected with official organisations in this country to maintain relations of this kind with representatives of official organisations in Rhodesia.
§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask him, without implying either approval of the Smith régime or disapproval of sanctions, whether he is aware that in the opinion of many people this kind of thing reflects a sort of pettiness which, on the one hand, seems unworthy of the governing Power and, on the other, can do nothing but embitter further the relations existing between the two countries, and therefore militate against the achievement of a negotiated settlement?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I am aware that some people take the views mentioned by the noble Earl, but I am also aware that if the invitation had stood the illegal régime would probably have exploited it for political purposes to cast doubt on the seriousness of Britain's policy towards Rhodesia and to show that in fact relations between the two countries were normal. In the view of Her Majesty's Government that would not be true, and therefore it would be undesirable.
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, this championship is referred to as an "open" championship. Can my noble friend say whether it is open to organisations and individuals within this country or outside the borders of this country?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, almost certainly it is truly an open championship. It is open to individuals within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Eire, and to Germany, Italy, and so on. I was present at the boxing championships myself on Monday night and four of the Italians each won a trophy.
§ LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURYMy Lords, is this supposed to be part of the process of "bringing Rhodesia to her knees", and, if so, is it not quite obvious that it will have precisely the reverse effect?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I think the noble Lord is unusually unaware of the situation. Perhaps he does not recall that on January 12, when addressing the Rhodesian Olympic Supporters' Association, and taking joy in the fact that the Olympic Games authorities had agreed that they should participate, Mr. Ian Smith said:
What a tremendous achievement this has been. What a wonderful breakthrough for Rhodesia, not only in the sporting world but in general as far as Rhodesian acceptance throughout the world is concerned".On these Benches, my Lords, we do not accept this régime or what it is doing.
§ LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURYMy Lords, may I then take it that the answer to my original question was a simple, "Yes"?