§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy 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 there is any truth in the reported allegation by the President of Peru that Britain was directly responsible for the collapse of his mediation efforts in the Falklands dispute.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)No, my Lords. The Peruvian initiative failed because Argentina rejected the proposals.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the whole of Latin America now appears to believe that this country does not want peace? Will the Government disprove that belief by calling for a n immediate cease-fire?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, our objective remains to end the unlawful Argentine occupation and to give back to the islanders their right to determine their own future.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, in view of the discussion on this point, I should like to ask a question. Did the British Government endorse the proposal in the Peruvian document in favour of a joint administration of the Falkland Islands after withdrawal of the Argentine forces?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, joint administration in consultation with the islands' elected representatives.
Lord Paget of NorthamptonMy Lords, what was all the negotiating about? The Argentinians have burst into our property. The question was whether they went. What else was there to negotiate about?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, we have been negotiating because we wish to see a solution to what is a tragedy.
Lord Paget of NorthamptonMy Lords, the solution was that they went, was it not? There was not anything else.
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, that is our determination.
§ Lord KinnairdMy Lords, would my noble friend the Minister not agree that, at this crucial juncture in our history, unless noble Lords have something constructive to say it would be wiser to keep quiet?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, my noble friend's advice is, as usual, sound.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that a number of us would like to emulate another place by voting against the Government's policies on this issue? Will he ask his noble friend to provide an opportunity for that to occur?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, the noble Lord's judgment is, as usual, not sound.