HL Deb 26 January 1971 vol 314 cc837-40

3.40 p.m.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I should like, with permission, to repeat a Statement which my right honourable friend the Prime Minister is making in another place. This is the Statement:

"With permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a Statement.

"I left London on the 6th of January to travel to the Conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Singapore, stopping on my way in Cyprus, Pakistan, India and Malaysia.

"In Cyprus, I visited the British Forces in the Sovereign Base Areas. I should like to tell the House how greatly I was impressed by the outstanding services being rendered by the Army and the R.A.F. I also took the opportunity to have discussions with the President of the Republic and to call on the Vice President. I also met the commander of the United Nations force in Cyprus and the Secretary General's representative.

"In Pakistan I had discussions with President Yahya Khan and Pakistani Ministers.

"During my three days in Delhi I had meetings with Mrs. Gandhi and Her Ministers; I also had an opportunity of speaking to the Indian Council of World Affairs.

"In my visit to Kuala Lumpur, I had discussions with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and members of his Government. Here, as also in Pakistan, I was greatly touched by the gratitude expressed to me for the contributions which the British Government and people had made to the relief of the distress caused by the recent floods.

"Both in Singapore where I visited units of Her Majesty's Forces, and in Malaysia, I found a warm welcome for our decision to keep a continuing British presence in the area, as part of the five-power arrangements which are shortly to be concluded.

"In all these countries, I took the opportunity of meeting members of the British communities and representatives of British business and other interests. I was much impressed by the British investment and aid contribution to economic development in the area.

"I am glad to be able to report to the House that bilateral relations between Britain and each of these countries are now close and will, I hope, become more and more fruitful.

"The Heads of Government of the Commonwealth met in Singapore from the 14th to the 22nd of January, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Singapore. My right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary was present with me throughout the Conference. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the texts of the Communiqué and the declaration agreed by the Heads of Government.

"In addition to the normal reviews of the international, political and economic scene, the agenda included items on the implications for the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom regotiations for entry to the E.E.C.; on the future of the Commonwealth in the next decade; on the situation in Southern Africa; on the security of the Indian Ocean; on comparative techniques of government; on various items connected with schemes of technical co-operation and the Commonwealth Foundation; and the Secretary-General's report.

"The problems of Southern Africa overshadowed the Conference and dominated the discussion. But, important though those problems are, there are many other questions, concerning other continents, both in the political and the economic spheres as well as in the whole field of Commonwealth cooperation, to which we could usefully and constructively have given more time.

"In the discussion of Southern Africa I took the opportunity of explaining why we think that there is a threat from growing Soviet naval power in the Indian Ocean, as elsewhere. I explained why we thought that the issues of apartheid, which, with the other Heads of Government, we condemned, and the sale of arms were two separate questions. And I explained why we considered it necessary to retain our right to use the facilities granted us under the Simonstown Agreements, and therefore to discharge our own obligations under those Agreements. I set out fully the grounds on which, for reasons of practical common sense and straightforward dealing, it has seemed to us that it would be in the spirit of these joint arrangements, which remain valid and relevant, and which no Commonwealth Government asked us to abandon, to continue to supply the limited categories of equipment needed to enable South Africa to play her part.

"I also made clear the nature of our legal obligations under the Simonstown Agreements. These obligations arise under the Agreement for the Defence of the Sea Routes round Southern Africa. I am advised that the obligation is to permit the export of equipment and spare parts required to keep operationally efficient the vessels purchased under the terms of that Agreement. The obligation extends to licensing the purchase of Westland Wasp helicopters to equip three anti-submarine frigates that were purchased under the Agreement and were, with our agreement and assistance, converted to carry helicopters. My right honourable and learned friend the Attorney General proposes to advise Parliament on these legal obligations in a White Paper to be published shortly.

"I explained clearly the views of Her Majesty's Government; I listened carefully to the views of other Commonwealth Heads of Government on these matters; and I undertook to convey all those views to my colleagues.

"One of the anxieties expressed by Commonwealth leaders concerned the future intentions of the South African Government towards them. To allay these anxieties I informed the Conference of the assurances we have had from the South African Government that they will not use any items of maritime equipment which we may supply to them, for purposes other than the protection of the sea routes. I made it clear that I did not expect the South African Government to breach this assurance, but that, if they did, we should at once refuse any further supplies of equipment or spares.

"I accepted the proposal for a group to study the defence of the trade routes in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, since this clearly expressed the importance which many Commonwealth countries attached to the trade routes in those areas. We will play our part in the work of this study group. At the same time I have fully reserved the right of the British Government to take such action as it thinks necessary in defence of British interests. These words mean what they say, no more no less. Our position is quite clear and straightforward, and there are no secret understandings.

"It was on the same basis that we were concerned to ensure that the declaration of principles explicitly recognised that each country is responsible for its own policies.

"This was not an easy meeting. For the first time there were 31 Commonwealth countries represented including three new members from the Pacific. Inevitably much of the old intimacy of discussion has disappeared. Regrettably, the public release of statements seems to have become a regular practice, so detracting from the freedom and frankness of the discussions. I think that all the Heads of Government were aware of this weakness and we shall be giving thought to this and other problems connected with our Commonwealth discussions in the 'seventies and beyond. I was deeply impressed by the strength of feeling, which this Government fully share, that the Commonwealth, with its distinctive tradition and procedures, if they can be preserved, has a vital role to play in helping to promote better relations and closer understanding between the nations of the world."

That, my Lords, concludes the Prime Minister's Statement.

Following are the texts of the Final Communiqué referred to by Lord Jellicoe and, at the end, the Commonwealth Declaration: