HL Deb 04 August 1975 vol 363 cc1313-4

2.55 p.m.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

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 the Queen's State Visit to Nigeria will proceed in October as planned.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, as my right honourable friend said in another place on 29th July, it is still too early to say whether or not Her Majesty will visit Nigeria in October. We look forward to enjoying close relations with the new Nigerian Government as we did with the old.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for that reply. While appreciating that this may be a delicate matter at this time, may I ask the noble Lord whether he would concede that, first of all, it is in the interests of us all to maintain and develop the best possible relations with Nigeria; and, secondly, might it not smack of a breach of the principle of noninterference if we appear to exercise some judgment about the new regime in Nigeria?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I am quite sure that the whole House will agree with the noble Earl that we should re-affirm our strong ties with Nigeria as a fellow Member of the Commonwealth, of which Her Majesty is the Head. I do not think there is any danger at this juncture of our so comporting ourselves in the affairs of Nigeria as to give them any impression that we are unduly interfering with their internal affairs. The new Head of State, who in the past few days has in fact received the accolade of the former Head of State, has indicated that he will continue the same policies, even though he will seek, as he sees it, new efficiencies.

Lord SOMERS

My Lords, would my noble friend agree that it is very difficult to exercise judgment on the present regime without exercising exactly equal judgment on the preceding one which did exactly the same thing?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I do not think that we are called upon to exercise judgment on either régime.

Lord GRIMSTON of WESTBURY

My Lords, would the Minister agree that a coup is becoming the accepted method of changing a government in Africa, rather than any democratic process such as we understand?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, yes, this may be true. But I suggest that there are coups and coups.