HL Deb 24 January 1980 vol 404 cc528-30

3.12 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 will support within the European Community and NATO West Germany's determination to "step up its efforts for peace in Europe and for déente, and to persist in efforts for arms reduction and control", as stated by Chancellor Helmut Schmidt on 17th January 1980.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, like the Federal Government and our other partners in the Nine and NATO, we remain committed to seeking ways of promoting the stability of East/West relations and to the pursuit of arms control negotiations which make a genuine contribution to our security. But the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is bound to cast its shadow over the détente process.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I welcome the noble Lord back. May I put this question: is it not desirable, while strong opposition is expressed to the Soviet Union's action in Afghanistan, that, with that and as a parallel to it, the campaign for disarmament and verification should be extended? Would not the Russian armies have to obey this as well as other armies? Did the noble Lord note that yesterday, in President Carter's forthright State of the Union message to Congress, he included the following clause: The prevention of nuclear war is the foremost responsibility of the two super-powers and the effort to control nuclear weapons will not be abandoned"? Will our Government support that?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, I should like to welcome the noble Lord back, too. We are very glad to see him. I do not think that Her Majesty's Government would in any way differ from the sentiments expressed by the President of the United States.

Lord GLADWYN

My Lords, would the Government recognise that perhaps the best way to step up efforts for peace in Europe is to recognise that détente has now been completely undermined by the Soviet Government, and take the necessary action?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, I think that the atmosphere has been soured by what has happened, but I think it is in the interests both of the West and of the Warsaw Pact countries to seek to get arms limitation which is advantageous to both sides.

Lord CHELWOOD

My Lords, while feeling that Europe can hardly be looked at in isolation where these matters are concerned, may I ask my noble friend to comment on the fact that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the chaos in Iran after the revolution, have highlighted yet again the imperative need for NATO to cease to regard its area of responsibility as bounded by the Tropic of Cancer? May I ask my noble friend whether he can say what has been the outcome of the very long talks that have been going on for some seven or eight years in NATO in considering this question?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, I shall shortly be making a Statement on Afghanistan, which I fear will be much too long, but in answer to my noble friend's question I do not think that so far there is any inclination on the part of most members of NATO to increase the geographical area for which NATO is responsible.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, may I warmly welcome the Foreign Secretary's answer to my noble friend Lord Brockway's supplementary question?—namely, that proper and forceful denunciation of the action of the Russians in imperilling peace and stability in Afghanistan and the Near East must nevertheless not be a reason for our abandoning the essential and necessary process of detente and of disarmament.