The Earl of SELKIRKMy 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 have made any representations to the Government of France on the manner in which they have recently conducted relations with Canada.
The Earl of SELKIRKMy Lords, is it not a little disagreeable for members of the European Community when one of their number gratuitously and officially behaves with a degree of discourtesy to a country with which the European Community is bound by treaty? Is it possibly the noble Lord's view that this would fall under Article 5, which enjoins all members of the Community to avoid jeopardising the purposes of the Community?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, my Lords, the noble Earl has correctly interpreted Article 5; but I see nothing in the exchanges in Paris between the French President and the Quebec Premier that would have the effect that the noble Earl fears. His original Question was as to whether Her Majesty's Government would intervene. This is of course an internal matter for the Canadian Government, Parliament and people, and I have absolutely every confidence that they will deal with it in the right way.