HL Deb 01 March 1977 vol 380 cc498-9

2.43 p.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

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 they have taken part in the warning given by other members of the European Community to the Govern-of the Republic of South Africa against the intention to set up an interim Government in Namibia (South West Africa).

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, the decision to make a démarche to the South African Government was taken jointly by all members of the Nine. Accordingly the British Ambassador in Cape Town, acting on behalf of the Nine, delivered it on 7th February. The Nine decided to make a démarche in the light of reports that an interim Government may soon be introduced in Namibia.

Lord BROCK WAY

My Lords, while welcoming that reply, may I ask the Minister whether it is not clear that this proposal for a sham independent Government in Namibia is an unholy alliance between the South African Government, salaried chiefs and multinational companies seeking to exploit the minerals there? Will Her Majesty's Government continue to oppose this proposal?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, although I could not adopt my noble friend's interpretation of the situation in Namibia, he comes quite close to it. I would rest on the view of the Nine—which I am quite sure is shared outside the Nine—that in any case there are definite requirements, which emanate from decisions of the United Nations, to be observed before there could be international agreement to an emerging self-governing Assembly in Namibia. Those requirements are that there should be a single electoral process conducted over the whole territory under international supervision and that all political Parties, including SWAPO, should be allowed to take full and free part in this process.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, would the Minister tell us whether our Ambassador was told, in diplomatic language of course, to mind his own business.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

No, my Lords; in fact, while it is not for me to impart the content of diplomatic exchanges, I shall depart slightly from that rule to say that there is no foundation for what my noble friend has suggested.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARY-LEBONE

My Lords, are there not other unholy alliances—for example, in Angola—which cast some doubts on the genuine independence of other territories in Southern Africa?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

In-dubitably, yes, my Lords. I regret to say this on a Holy Day; namely, St. David's Day.

Lord BRUCE of DONINGTON

My Lords, will my noble friend give an undertaking that he will pay particular attention to the remarks made by my noble friend Lord Brockway in the course of his supplementary question about the activities of multinational companies in that area? Is he aware that evidence is increasing of intense pressure from those companies?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Yes, my Lords; it is not only multinational companies but multinational alliances which may create difficulties not only in Namibia but for this country and other countries. The aim must surely be to arrange peacefully, and as democratically as possible, for the emergence of an independent successor State in Namibia which will deal with these matters in a fair and rational way. I would suggest that British interests are at least as worthy of consideration in this context as the interests of any other country.