§ 3.17 p.m.
§ Viscount MONTGOMERY of ALAMEINMy 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 progress has been made in discussions with the Government of Argentina concerning our mutual interest in developing the South-West Atlantic area.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, in 1976 Argentine Ministers responsible for economic affairs, maritime interests and energy visited Britain. Their discussions with representatives of British industry and the Government Departments touched on the potential for joint ventures in the South-West Atlantic. Yesterday I repeated in the House the Statement then made in another place by my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, stating that we believe the time has come to consider whether a climate exists for discussing the broad issues which bear on the future of the Falkland Islands, and the possibilities of co-operation between Britain and Argentina in the region of the South-West Atlantic. Her Majesty's Government will work towards creating this climate and bringing about opportunities for suitable joint ventures.
§ Viscount MONTGOMERY of ALAMEINMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply and for the Statement made yesterday by the Secretary of State. I apologise for what appears to be having two bites at the same cherry. I believe that what happened yesterday is a very realistic attempt to grasp the nettle by the stalk very firmly. This is to be commended, and we obviously wish the Minister the best of luck when he goes there. At the same time I should like to ask two further questions. First, in view of the very encouraging and strong economic recovery in Argentina, will the Minister, when he goes there, seek opportunities to strengthen the commercial links with 961 that country and when he comes back draw the attention of British industry to these opportunities.
Secondly (and this follows from the first point), is it not time—and will he be able to say at what stage—a British Ambassador at Buenos Aires is appointed in order to follow up these important opportunities?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am sure that my honourable friend the Joint Minister of State, who will undertake this mission, will be grateful for the noble Viscount's remarks this afternoon. I am sure, also, that the noble Viscount has very succinctly summed up a very large part of the purpose of my honourable friend's mission. As to the second point, we are quite active in contacting British industrial interests here and, through the Argentine Government, on the mainland to see what possibilities of development and, hopefully, of joint ventures exist. I am sure that those possibilities will be greatly strengthened and made more possible by my honourable friend's mission.
§ Baroness ELLESMy Lords, could the Minister confirm that, as he said in one of his replies during the discussion yesterday on the Statement of his right honourable friend, diplomatic skills will contribute to providing a better climate between Argentina and this country, particularly in relation to the Falkland Islands, and would the Minister therefore not agree that the Question put by my noble friend Lord Montgomery of Alamein is really very relevant to the development of better diplomatic relations between the two countries with regard to appointing an Ambassador there? Secondly, I should like to ask the Minister what statement or help can be given to the Falkland Islanders themselves to reassure them that they will not lose any connection with Britain without having a say in that matter themselves; because surely the industrial development of the Falkland Islands will depend on political stability and not only on economic stability.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for reminding me that I did not address myself to the diplomatic point raised 962 by the noble Viscount. Both countries, Argentina and the United Kingdom, are represented vicariously at chargé level, as he knows. It would be our great hope that there should be a mutual restoration of the level of representation in the two countries, possibly as a result of the success of this mission. I agree that diplomatic skill at the highest possible level, ambassadorial level, will probably be vital to the success of these talks. The noble Baroness also asked whether the Islanders themselves were to be given any assurance of the attitude of the British Government. This is constantly being done, of course, through the normal constitutional channels; and, as I said yesterday, no doubt special steps will be taken to ensure that the contents of the Statements made in the two Houses, and the exchanges across the Floors of the two Houses of Parliament, will be brought to the attention of the Islanders.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the extent to which the United Kingdom should co-operate in development with other countries should be dependent to some extent, at any rate, on the human rights policies adopted in those countries, and has he noted the initiatives of President Carter in this regard? Would the noble Lord therefore not agree that it would be desirable to proceed with great caution in this matter until we see whether progress is made in the restoration of normality and the restoration of legal processes in Argentina?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, my Lords; I have no doubt that improvement in relations bilaterally between what are, after all, old and valued friends may have results, effects, politically as well as economically.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask this question? While most of the supplementary questions have been devoted to the Falkland Islands, does not this Question go much further than that; and, in view of the discussions at the Lomé Conference, will Her Majesty's Government consider extending representation in other developing countries?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I should like to consider my noble friend's suggestion. It bears on the much 963 broader question, as he himself said, relating to the economic links between certain dependencies and the Community, on the one hand, and, indeed, among each other, on the other hand. Perhaps my noble friend might consider putting down a specific Question on this point.