§ 11.17 a.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Government in what circumstances the distributed speech of the Duke of Edinburgh on his recent visit to Portugal was withdrawn.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, the speech had 1583 to be translated for the Press, and an early draft was prepared for possible issue. Because of subsequent changes, this draft was not distributed to the Press. Copies of the speech itself were given to the Press after it had been delivered.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness. Could she explain how it is that the Press received this early draft. Could she confirm that the original draft included the phrase—and I quote:
differences in outlook on Colonial policy …as reported by the very well-informed diplomatic correspondent of the Guardian? Is it true that the early draft was submitted to the Portuguese Foreign Minister and that it was as a result of his protest that the early draft was withdrawn? Was this with the prior knowledge of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I am not aware that any member of the Press could possibly have obtained a copy of what was an earlier draft of the final speech. Therefore I cannot comment on speculation about an article in a newspaper. As is customary with speeches of this kind, it is a normal courtesy to compare notes of what will be said by both sides on such occasions, and this took place. No representation of any kind was made by the Portuguese on the material.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lady. But does this not raise the whole issue of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance? Is it not the case that, whilst it was of historical significance, it is now illogical? There is the unprincipled alliance of Portugal in NATO. Is it not outweighed by the loss of confidence in the Commonwealth by our association with the only country in Europe which still retains colonial possessions in Africa?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the brief answer to the noble Lord's question is, "No". But I would remind him that the 600th anniversary was a ceremonial 1584 occasion with a very old ally. While we have differences together, which are well known, on colonial policies, they do not affect that particular light.
§ LORD HALEMy Lords, is the noble Lady aware, as on the occasion of this spurious fanfare for trumpets, it would be extremely difficult, even for such an accomplished orator as His Royal Highness, to say something that was felicitously in tune with the music and historically in accord with the facts?