HL Deb 13 May 1969 vol 302 cc3-4
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 decision was made by the Council of Europe on the proposal that Greece should be suspended from membership and how the British representatives voted.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, I have nothing to add to the Statement made by my noble friend Lord Shepherd on May 7, which made it plain that we voted for the Ministerial resolution of May 6.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that very many of us are disappointed at the delay in reaching a decision? While the report of the Human Rights Commission will not be published until the autumn, does not the régime in Greece also violate Article 3 of the Statute of the Council of Europe?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am aware of course of my noble friend's views on this matter, and he will be equally aware, I think, that the recommendation of the Consultative Assembly did not call for the suspension or expulsion of Greece from the Council of Europe, whatever may be the position under Article 3, and no one in the Council of Ministers suggested that this was so. A time limit has now been set for a deci sion on this matter, which is the next meeting of the Council of Ministers, and I hope my noble friend will be patient until then.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend this further question? If the Human Rights Commission makes its report in the autumn, will it be possible to expedite the meeting now scheduled for December?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, this is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility, nor procedurally impossible. We have talked of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers, but there is no firm date set for that yet. If the majority of the members of the Council of Europe wanted to bring the meeting forward, it would be possible to do so.

LORD MILFORD

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether, when Her Majesty's Government were giving this reprieve to the Junta Government of Greece they were aware, and whether they took into account, that thirty members of the Greek Parliament, democratically elected, are still in prison or under house arrest, some very old and some very ill?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I note with some interest the information which the noble Lord has given to the House. I must, however, say that this is not a question, as he put it, of Her Majesty's Government giving a reprieve to the Greek Junta; this is a case of Her Majesty's Government voting for a resolution in the Council of Europe which was voted for by a great majority of the other members of the Council.