HL Deb 21 April 1971 vol 317 cc635-7
LORD KENNET

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 whether they have seen the book,The Political Parties of Africa, produced by the Africa Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and whether it contains an analysis of the best ways in which sympathisers with Soviet Communism can obtain power in different African countries; and, if so, whether they will now remove the greatest single factor conducing to Communism in Black Africa, namely, their own sale of arms to South Africa, and will invite the French Government to do the same.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HAILSHAM OF ST. MARYLEBONE)

My Lords, before I answer the noble Lord's Question perhaps I may be allowed to say that my noble friend Lord Lothian, who would ordinarily have replied on behalf of the Government, is in Geneva on a Committee of the Disarmament Conference. This is why I am making my unworthy incursion into this field of policy.

My Lords, the Answer to the first part of the noble Lord's Question is, Yes. In reply to the second part of the Question, the book lists those countries in Africa alleged to contain what are called "revolutionary democratic" Parties which could become, as it says, "reliable detachments of the international Communist and Workers' movement" and goes on to describe methods in which, it is claimed, present Nationalist Parties may be transferred into Communist-type Parties. In reply to the third part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government's policy has been made clear on a number of occasions and is not likely to be influenced specifically by the contents of the book.

I must add that I cannot accept the tendentious statement of opinion contained in the first part of the last sentence of the noble Lord's Question. As regards the last part of the Question, the French Government have made it abundantly clear that they regard the suggestion made in that part of the noble Lord's Question as exclusively a matter for themselves.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, may I express my gratitude for the extremely full nature of the noble and learned Lord's Answer. May I ask Her Majesty's Government, if even this is not enough to deflect them from their course on arms to South Africa, what would be?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, it is a little naïve of the noble Lord not to realise that the book to which he refers, which is the only subject of the Question, is also supplemented by the presence East of Suez of a physical naval presence by the Soviet Government.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, would the Government agree that the only sustainable argument in favour of supplying arms to South Africa is the alleged menace to our communications in the Indian Ocean by the Soviet Navy? Would they further agree that, if in the circumstances of a modern war that argument is shown to be invalid, there would be no reasons at all for supplying any arms to South Africa?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the noble Lord's Question referred to the relationship between a book printed by the Soviet authorities and Her Majesty's Government's policy. Wider questions of policy had better be left to other Questions, or possibly to debate.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, does the noble Lord think that if the argument is for the containment of Communism it would be best in this country to contain Communism by withdrawing the Industrial Relations Bill?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, as with the last question this is somewhat outside the scope of the Question which I was asked to answer.

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