§ 3.7 p.m.
§ LORD SORENSENMy 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 further developments have taken place in respect of the Falkland Islands and the claim of the Argentine Government.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, since I repeated in your Lordships' House the Statement which my right honourable friend made in another place on December 11, further talks have taken place with the Argentine authorities. The purpose of these has been to continue to explore possible means of narrowing the differences which exist between the two Governments in this problem, and I hope for that reason that it will be possible to go on with the discussions.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, may I first ask my noble friend whether actual discussions have taken place between our own representatives and the Argentine Government representatives? Secondly, can he give some idea of the nature of the proposals which are designed to narrow the gap? In what way is it being narrowed?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, as I indicated in my original Answer, there have been these discussions; they have been taking place between representatives of the British Government and representatives of the Argentine Government. I hope that my noble friend will not press me to say in detail what has taken place during these discussions, as the talks have so far been confidential.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Falklanders have been kept in the picture in connection with these talks?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, we shall of course keep the Government and, through them, the people of the Falkland Islands in touch with any development that takes place. So far there have only been talks, and there has been no development of any kind which requires that the people of the Falkland Islands should be informed of it.