§ 3.10 p.m.
§ Lord BUXTON of ALSAMy 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 can report on the outcome of recent talks with the Government of Argentina on matters concerning the Falkland Islands.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I must apologise for the length of this Answer. As was stated in another place on 8th of May, my honourable friend the Minister of State, Mr. Ridley, met an Argentine delegation led by the Under-Secretary of 566 State at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Comodoro Cavandoli, for wide-ranging and exploratory talks in New York on 28th and 29th of April. A Falkland Islands Councillor, Mr. Adrian Monk, attended as a member of the United Kingdom delegation. The exchanges were cordial and positive. Each side was able to reach a better understanding of the other's position. We made clear that we remained convinced of our sovereignty. No decisions were taken, though it was agreed that contacts on day-to-day matters between the Islands and Argentina should be expanded. Each delegation is reporting back to its Government. We hope to continue these exchanges.
§ Lord BUXTON of ALSAMy Lords, in thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I put one very important question to him? Bearing in mind that the lack of initiative and enterprise in the Falkland Islands, except for sheep farming, derives from uncertainty and indecisiveness by successive Governments throughout the century, will this Government now extend the fishing limits to 200 miles round the Falkland Islands and Dependencies? In my view, that would be in the best interests both of Britain and of Argentina, the more so because those waters are being heavily exploited and over-fished by Eastern bloc fleets, including Russians and Poles.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, dealing with the point made by my noble friend, fishing and the exploitation of resources by third parties round the waters of the Falkland Islands were discussed in the recent talks in New York. We continue to keep under close review the question of extending dependent territory fishing zones, including those of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies, to 200 miles; but there are no plans to do so at present.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, can my noble friend say what else was talked about; or were the talks only about fishing?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am afraid that these talks, like all such talks, are generally of a confidential nature and I cannot go into details.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, is my noble friend saying that he cannot give us any idea whatever of the subjects, even the heads of discussion? He has said that the talks were cordial and frank and so on. Can he give us any idea of what it was all about?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I do not think that my noble friend heard what I said earlier. Talks of this nature are always confidential.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that we on this side of the House are certainly sensitive to the delicate nature of these talks and that we find what the noble Lord has just had to say in response to the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Buxton of Alsa, encouraging? It is satisfactory that there is good feeling between Britain and the Argentine, two long-standing friends who look forward to even closer co-operation in the future, including co-operation in solving the problems of the Falkland Islands.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for that helpful intervention.
§ Lord DAVIES of LEEKMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that on this side of the House some of us look with admiration on his efforts to answer every question across the board? He is almost a polymath in his efforts to defend the Government.