§ 2.54 p.m.
§ Lord MolloyMy 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 a decision has now been made regarding a British contingent to serve in the multinational peacekeeping force in the Lebanon.
Lord SkelmerdaleMy Lords, the Lebanese Government's request for British participation in the multinational force in Lebanon was one of the matters discussed during the recent visit to Britain of the Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr Elie Salem. No decision has yet been taken.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this request by the Lebanese Government reflects great credit on the country and shows great confidence in the country? I hope that that will be taken into consideration in further discussions. In addition to that, will the Government also take into consideration the magnificent contribution made in this terribly dangerous area by the former Prime Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Carrington?
§ Lord MolloyThe noble Lord made a remarkable contribution. Everybody involved was prepared to talk with and listen to him. If this is now reflected in the Government's decision possibly to send representations to the Lebanon, I believe that it will help solve the problem, bearing in mind the great contribution that the former Foreign Secretary made.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, quite certainly I agree with the noble Lord that this request by the Lebanese Government shows great confidence in the abilities that we have in this country to perform such a role. My admiration for my noble friend's work in the field of foreign affairs is second to none and I am very happy to be joined in this by the noble Lord.
Lord ChelwoodMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that there is some real concern among the Government's supporters who want to see an even-handed policy—one that is equally even-handed towards the Palestinians and the Israelis—that there has been such hesitation about this matter? Is he aware that many of us on this side of the House think that there is a very strong case indeed for making a contribution to this multinational force, even though it would be at some considerable expense and some risk?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, to a certain extent I would agree with my noble friend. One thing that is always of vital importance in foreign affairs is that one must be seen to be, and one must actually be, even-handed in every respect. I agree that this applies to the 478 Lebanon just as much as it does to Cyprus or elsewhere. On this particular matter, I am sure my noble friend will agree that it needs very careful consideration. I am happy to be able to tell him that this is something we are doing most urgently.
§ Baroness GaitskellMy Lords, would it not be true to say that any peace settlement in the Lebanon must involve not only an Israeli withdrawal, but the withdrawal of all forces—Palestinian, Syrian as well as Israeli forces—in the Lebanon?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleYes, my Lords, this is exactly what the multinational force is designed to achieve.
Lord Paget of NorthamptonMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the intervention by the former Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, in this part of the world created more resentment among the Israelis than any action which we have taken since the creation of a settlement of Israel, and that, in the light of that, a British force could not appear—at any rate in Israeli eyes—as anything like impartial, and therefore it would be far better kept at home?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleNo, my Lords, I could not disagree with the noble Lord more. I believe that my noble friend's unique ability in the field of foreign affairs was to get on with both sides while understanding the position of the minorities.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, in congratulating the noble Lord on that very firm reply, may I ask whether the important factor in this matter is to strengthen the Lebanese Government, to give support to the Lebanese army in making Lebanon Lebanese, and to assist in removing all hostile forces from her shores?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleYes, my Lords. Again, this is exactly the reason for the multinational force, which of course is to fill the vacuum and to aid the Lebanese army in their general policing role within that very troubled country. I am afraid to say that it will remain troubled for some considerable time to come.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, there has been some talk of a request for a British training team in the Lebanon. Before the Government reach a final conclusion on that, will they be completely satisfied that such a training team is, in fact, attached to a stable Lebanese army and not to some faction there?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, this is one of the matters to which I referred earlier as being urgently considered.
Viscount St. DavidsMy Lords, would the noble Lord take note of the words of the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, who would seem to indicate from the Back-Benches of the Labour Party that he would wish this country to be ruled by a hereditary Peer?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, I rather doubt, in this day and age, that that were possible.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there are some Peers I would not allow to run a 479 cockle shell stall? Is he also aware that the ravages that have occurred in the Lebanon, terrible though they be, might be the beginning of the move towards the peace which the noble Lord, Lord Carrington, sought so earnestly? Therefore, a British element in the multinational force could make a contribution to ease the problems in that area and, who knows?, might ultimately move towards finding the real solution for a permanent peace in the Middle East.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleYes, my Lords, I would agree that there are grounds for very gentle optimism, but a lot of water has to flow under the bridge before we see a settled Lebanon again.