HL Deb 27 March 1973 vol 340 cc971-2
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 part their representative in the United Nations Security Council took in its discussions on the claim of Panama for negotiations with the U.S.A. for sovereignty over the Canal Zone

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, the British representative told the Security Council that Her Majesty's Government regarded this as an issue between the Governments of the United States and Panama. They hoped that their negotiations, which had already begun, would be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

LORD BROCKWAY

But, my Lords, is not this question of much greater importance than an issue between the United States of America and Panama? Has not the veto imposed by the United States antagonised the whole of Central and South America, and has not our abstention caused distrust towards us, with very serious effects in that part of the world?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, it is entirely up to the United States as to how they use their veto. So far as our own abstention is concerned I do not think that it registered mistrust. We abstained because we thought the Security Council should not pronounce on a delicate matter which was already under discussion between the United States and Panama.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness one further question? Is it not desirable that we should seek the internationalisation of the Panama Canal and of all international waterways? Furthermore, is not the objective at which we should aim the right of the peoples on the borders to their own independence?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I do not think that on a question on Panama I could introduce such subjects, for example, as Suez. But I would say that as this matter was under negotiation between the United States and Panama we did not think that the Security Council had any need to pronounce on the matter.

BARONESS GAITSKELL

My Lords, would it not be a good thing if such waterways as the Panama Canal, or even the Suez Canal, were always open to international shipping and were international waterways?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, what is important, I quite agree with the noble Baroness, is that these waterways should be open to international shipping; and of course that is the prime interest of Britain in connection with the Panama Canal.