§ 11.17 a.m.
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy 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 will offer any assistance to the Government of Zambia to repair the damage inflicted on their railways, roads and communications by the forces of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, we have made it clear that we hope to play our part in assisting Zambia to redevelop its economy and infrastructure, which have been severely affected by the Rhodesian conflict.
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Would he agree that all British Governments have claimed that they are responsible for the actions of, first, Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe-Rhodesia? Is he further aware that the Chinese, who have no responsibility for the actions of the Rhodesian Government, have already partially repaired the railway bridge on the Tanzam railway; a railway bridge which, I might point out, is nowhere near any of the guerrilla camps in Zambia?
§ Lord TREFGARNENo, my Lords. I would not accept that we had responsibility in this matter. We had no control over the Rhodesian forces at the time of the raids and we do not, I am afraid, accept any responsibility for damage caused by them.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, will the noble Lord further point out to Zambia and Mozambique, and various other countries which allow their facilities to be used for invading their neighbours, that they must take the consequences of their own conduct?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, we are referring to the unhappy, but inevitable, consequences of the conflict in that part of the world. But, as noble Lords know, the cease-fire agreement has now been initialled and will be signed tomorrow, and I do not think we ought to go back over that now.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that some of us are very reassured by the Answer that the Minister has given to this Question?
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy Lords, in view of the question of my noble friend Lord Paget, will the noble Lord agree that the country of Zambia, which is a member of the Commonwealth, was asked by the 1796 British Government to assist in suppressing the rebellion in what was then Rhodesia, and that the forces that they have been harbouring, as it is called, were forces that were fighting against the rebels? Is it not strange that Zambia, which is a member of the Commonwealth, should be assisted by China rather than by Britain, and will the noble Lord reaffirm the intention of his Government to give every assistance now to the restoration of Zambian communications?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I prefer not to continue the emotive language which we hear from the noble Lord on these matters. The agreement has now been initialled and it will be signed tomorrow. This is, I should have thought, a major step forward. As for the general question of aid to Zambia, we are willing, as I have said, to help in the general cause of reconstructing their infrastructure, and we hope to have discussions with them shortly.
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy Lords, is it a fact—
Several noble Lords: Order, order!
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBY—that the British Government have asked the Zambian Government to assist them to put down the rebellion in Rhodesia?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I do not think we use those terms, but it is fair to say, as the noble Lord has pointed out, that the Zambians were in the forefront of the difficulties in that part of the world, and we are all delighted that they are now coming to an end.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that some of us on this side of the House are tired of this continual harping on matters which are likely to cause trouble, when such progress has been made?