§ 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 whether they will refrain from providing aid for civilian or military purposes to the Administration in Chile in view of the fact that by military force it overthrew the democratically-constituted Government.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR or BELHELVIE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government do not give military aid to Chile and do not consider that it would be in the interests of the people of Chile that development aid should be suspended.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while I welcome that Answer from the noble 4 Baroness, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government recognise the historical importance of what has occurred, following the Soviet invasion of human socialism in Czechoslovakia and now the American-supported prohibition of socialism and democracy in Chile? Is it not enormously important that the "unacceptable face of capitalism" should be altered by democratic means rather than by suppression?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, unfortunately there have been many coups in Latin America, and so far as concerns any suggestion that America is involved we unreservedly accept their denial that this was so.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not the case that Her Majesty's Government would have refused sympathy to Hitler's Germany, and by its repression and methods of coming to power is not the new Administration of Chile the most Fascist regime since the Hitler régime?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I do not feel it is appropriate to try to compare the present Government of Chile with that of Hitler. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, after formal recoenition of the new Government in Chile, made it clear that it did not mean that the British Government necessarily agreed with the policies of the Chilean Government. Recognition is acceptance of a fact and not an expression of approval.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, while it is difficult for most of us to know precisely what is going on in Chile, I wonder whether the noble Baroness is considering what steps the Government might take to ensure that no more unnecessary and tragic executions take place. Would the noble Baroness agree with me that whatever may have happened recently, the late President Allende was a very high-minded and idealistic man who was undoubtedly seeking a democratic socialist society?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, naturally Her Majesty's Government deplore violence wherever it may occur. Immediately after we had recognised the new Government, 5 Her Majesty's Ambassador was instructed to make representations explaining the very strong feeling in this country over the death of President Allende and others, and over the many people who had been arrested. The Government of Chile offered its assurances that it would deal in a humane manner and in accordance with due process of law with all those in detention and with those in political opposition.