§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy 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 representations they have made within the United Nations organisation since February 1976, when the United Kingdom officially recognised the present Government of Angola, concerning the continued presence in that country of Cuban troops equipped and transported there by the USSR.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, in a debate in the Security Council on 31st March, Her Majesty's Representative made clear Her Majesty's Government's view that the continued presence of foreign troops anywhere in Southern Africa will make it more difficult to find peaceful solutions to the problems of the region.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, does not the continued presence of large numbers of Cuban troops in Southern Africa add to the dangers of enlarging the conflict already existing in that area? As six months have elapsed since the debate which the noble Lord referred to, would it not be a good idea to take a fresh initiative?—because no nation is more interested in peace in that area than the United Kingdom.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, my Lords, I agree. So long as there are foreign troops in any part of Africa, and certainly in Southern and Central Africa, the prospects of peace, stability and ordered progress will be jeopardised. We have lost no opportunity, since the Angolan situation developed in February, I of pointing this out to all concerned, and we shall continue to do so.
§ Lord CARRINGTONMy Lords, can the noble Lord explain to the House why it is that those who are so vociferous, both here and abroad, in complaining about the foreign troops in other people's countries, were silent on this occasion?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I think the noble Lord might address that question to those concerned, who could best answer him. I am bound to say that I agree with the fundamental assumptions of his supplementary.
§ Baroness ELLESMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the House is always very grateful for the full and courteous replies given to us by the noble Lord? Does he recall that at the end of June in the Security Council, the question arose of allowing Angola admission to the United Nations? Would the noble Lord confirm that the United Kingdom Government voted in favour of allowing, the entry of Angola to the United Nations, but that the United States of America vetoed the entry because of the presence of foreign troops? Therefore, I should like to ask the Government why the United Kingdom Representative did not support the United States on this issue.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, because we took a different view from the United States. One could dilate on the comparative excellence of the United Kingdom approach; the excellence is not in opposition to the very good, but is slightly different. I cannot answer for the United States Government, certainly not at the present time. We will have to wait for a few days before they can answer effectively for themselves.
§ Lord HARMAR-NICHOLLSMy Lords, is the noble Lord, Lord Goronwy-Roberts, reporting officially that the United Nations at any rate recognised 429 that there are foreign troops in Angola, and in recognising it, they are admitting they recognise foreign troops on other territory and are not prepared to do anything about it? Is not that the only message we can take from what the noble Lord has just said?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, so far as I completely followed the supplementary question of the noble Lord, Lord Harmar-Nicholls, that is his assumption. I am not prepared to say whether I agree or disagree with it at the moment. I should like to study it further.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, is there any confirmation of the reports that some Angolan troops are now deployed in Mozambique? Are there reports from our diplomatic representatives in that area which can either confirm or deny this?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I have no information to confirm that suggestion. We hear rumours, but there is no hard evidence on this.
§ Lord GORE-BOOTHMy Lords, are the Government in this matter able to use with non-aligned countries the argument that not only the presence of Cuba in that area, but the existence of Cuban troops in Angola, damages the whole concept of non-alignment?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, indeed it does. As I have said, we lose no opportunity of pointing this out to everyone concerned, especially the non-aligned countries.