§ 2.34 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 will now recognise the Republican Government of the Yemen.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)No, my Lords. I have nothing to add to the Answer given on December 4, 1968.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend this question? In view of the fact that the civil war is virtually over, that there is now a Government under moderate, centre Party leadership and that this country is losing opportunities for mineral concessions, is it not important that this matter should be reconsidered?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the criteria on which Her Majesty's Government give recognition depend upon the reasonable prospects of permanency, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of the greater part of the national territory. At the present moment we are not so satisfied.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Royalist Legation in London is still recognised by this Government?
§ LORD SHEPHERDYes, my Lords, because at the present moment we recognise the Royalist Government of the Yemen.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend, supplementing the Question, whether it is not true that the Royalists control only a very small part of the country, and that that control is in fact steadily declining?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, that may be true, but we have recognised the Royalist Government and we cannot cease to recognise that authority until we are able to recognise something that will take its place.