HL Deb 18 June 1982 vol 431 cc768-70

11.17 a.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

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 included South Africa among the countries they asked to join in economic and diplomatic pressure on the Argentine Government.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, when we were seeking peaceful implementation of Security Council Resolution 502, we were in touch with a number of Governments which might have influence with Argentina, including the South African Government. It would not be right for me to reveal the content of confidential diplomatic exchanges.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is it not a fact that South Africa, which has a close alliance with Argentina, did not in fact join in sanctions? Is he aware that Argentinian torturers, including Commander Astiz, were recently in Pretoria introducing new methods of torture into South Africa?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, so far as the first supplementary question which the noble Lord has asked me, the South African Defence Minister said in the South African Parliament on 24th May: South Africa has not provided or sold any missiles or aeroplane parts in any way, as has been reported, before or during the Falklands conflict ". We have received no private or other assurances from the South African Government going beyond this. So far as the second question which the noble Lord asked is concerned, I have no information on that matter.

Lord Renton

My Lords, is it not a fact that the United Kingdom has achieved one of the greatest triumphs on behalf of freedom and justice in the history of the world, and that these relatively minor aftermath matters are of little significance in comparison with that great victory?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that supplementary question.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he will link this question with the one I asked him yesterday which he did not answer? Is it not ironic that the British Government should ask the South African Government to apply sanctions to Argentina because of the Argentine's breach of international law, when the same British Government have consistently refused to admit that the application of sanctions to South Africa is appropriate over a similar breach of international law in Namibia?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, that seems to be a totally different question on which the noble Lord had better put a Question on the Order Paper.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, in conclusion, if I may revert to the matter of the Falklands, which has been raised, may I ask whether the Minister is aware that many of us draw a total distinction between the incompetence of the Government and the efficiency of our forces and that, during the inquiry, which the Government themselves have agreed is necessary, we shall continue to maintain that distinction?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, it is a distinction which the noble Lord draws. It is not a distinction which I draw. The end result of the military operation in the South Atlantic has been one reflecting very great credit on this country. Now let us all together continue to try to see if we can overcome the problems of the future.

Lord Harmar-Nicholls

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that many people hope that the Government and future Governments will bear in mind that it was possibly the extreme ideological objection to certain things in South Africa which caused the end of the Simonstown Agreement, which may have avoided many of the problems and deaths we have had to face in recent weeks?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, we do not have plans to initiate discussions with a view to reactivating the Simonstown Agreement.