§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action is to be taken to prevent the extensive trade in Rhodesian exports equipped with false certificates of origin as revealed in the trial of Haagen Jennow at Copenhagen on February 16,1970.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, we are, in consultation with other Governments and with the Common-wealth and United Nations Sanctions Committees, seeking ways and means of 325 enforcing sanctions more effectively. Both Committees are fully seized of the wide-spread use of false certificates of origin as a cover for illegal Rhodesian exports.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his Answer. Is he aware that the Danish businessman who was charged in this matter gave evidence that exports with false certificates of origin and false invoices are sent freely from Beira, and that the port is filled with ships loading Rhodesian goods? When Her Majesty's Government approach the Security Council, will they not ask that it be made an obligation on Portugal to check exports, and for member States of United Nations, to check imports, to make sure that the documents are not faked?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we are fully seized of the situation, as are the other members of the United Nations Sanctions Committee, and they are looking into the matter most anxiously.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have asked for a meeting of the Security Council particularly in relation to the declaration of Rhodesia as a Republic, whether Her Majesty's Government will propose to the Security Council that the consulates in Rhodesia of 13 countries should be ended, and that postal, telecommunication and air flights to the country should be stopped? When are we going to apply sanctions seriously?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we seek to enforce sanctions seriously. The resolution to which my noble friend refers (and he may have seen it) calls, in paragraph 2, on all States not to recognise this illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia, and to refrain from rendering any assistance to it. The countries concerned have made it known that the existence of the 13 consulates does not mean recognition of the illegal ré gime.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister why, since it now seems unlikely that that objective will be attained, public funds continue to be used for the prosecution of economic warfare, which appears useless and is likely to be counter-productive in Southern Africa?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Lord has raised this point on a number of occasions. I wish to be charitable, but I hope that one day he will wake up to the fact that Rhodesia has an illegal ré gime, which has made itself more so by becoming a Republic.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether, with his accustomed compassion, he can understand the perplexity of those in this House who fought in World War 1, and who in World War II heard of the 5 million or more human beings of Jewish race who were inhumanely liquidated? One has to listen to denigration of people of our own race in Rhodesia who fought with us against Germany, and also note that, with our forgiveness and conventional courtesy, a signal honour is extended—perhaps now wisely—to a representative of Germany.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we have always regarded the Rhodesian situation with compassion. Our concern is with the Rhodesians as a whole, who also fought on our side during the war.