§ 2.33 p.m.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy 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 their present policy towards Spain takes account of the great services rendered by that country during the Second World War to members of S.O.E. and our pilots who were shot down and enabled by the French to escape over the Pyrenees.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, neither the Government, nor I am sure the House, have forgotten the actions during the Second World War respectively of the then Spanish Government and of certain courageous individual Spaniards. However, the Government's policy towards Spain is dictated by the needs of the present, and indeed of the future.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Is he aware that, while I am no supporter of Franco, bearing in mind the many lives which were saved by the Spanish authorities during the last World War and the effect of the help which the French gave by hiding our pilots in safe houses until they could get over the Pyrenees, I appreciate that Answer? Will the noble Lord also accept from me an expression of my 595 pleasure that the noble Lord the Lord Privy Seal attended the funeral of General Franco?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I note what the noble Baroness has said. Of course, everybody appreciates and will never forget the courageous action of many individual Spaniards in helping our men during the Second World War.
§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, will the noble Lord further agree that the action of the late General Franco in not allowing the Germans to go through Spain during the war and so not closing the Straits to Gibraltar was an action which has not been given sufficient credence in this country? Is the Minister aware (I am sure he is) that if the Straits of Gibraltar had been closed that would obviously have sealed off the Mediterranean and prolonged the war very much?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the noble Viscount's views are interesting. They are not, however, shared unanimously by those who recall the political circumstances of the time.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, will the Minister agree that the Spaniards who helped our airmen during the war were brave precisely because they had to risk persecution by the Fascist Government for their action which they had taken to help us?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, my noble friend puts it far better than I myself could ever put it.
§ Earl COWLEYMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that it is important that this country gives as much assistance and support to Spain at the present time when the Spanish Government seem to be taking the first tentative steps towards pluralist democracy?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I warmly welcome that intervention. It is most helpful and I can say at once that the answer is unreservedly, "Yes".