§ 3.10 p.m.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have urged on the United States Government the importance of calling off their military and economic measures against Nicaragua so that the November elections in that country can take place in peace.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)My Lords, we are in close touch with the United States Government at all levels on matters of current concern, including Nicaragua. Most recently my right honourable and learned friend discussed Central America with Secretary Shultz in London on 5th June.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, does not the noble Baroness agree that while her Answer is reassuring, it is hardly specific? Does her failure to say that this country has urged upon the United States the undesirability of their present policy mean that they go along with it? Can she say a little more? Have the Government noticed that Daniel Ortega, who is the chairman of the government junta of Nicaragua, is at the moment in Moscow and is apparently returning via Libya? Presumably, he is there to get arms to fight the CIA infiltrators and terrorists.
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, the answer to the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question is that I thought I was specific. I said that my right honourable and learned friend had discussed Nicaragua on 5th June with Secretary Shultz. In answer to the second part of the noble Lord's supplementary, the British Government have stated that they do support the objectives of United States policy in central America and we have publicly made clear our support for the efforts of the Contadora group. As regards the third part of the supplementary, the United States Government are, of course, helping governments whose political and economic reform efforts have been threatened by externally-aided insurgency and terrorism. If this insurgency stops, the United States military protection will be no longer needed. With regard to the point concerning the visit of Mr. Ortega, I could not comment on that.
§ Lord GladwynMy Lords, would not the Government agree that, even if the United States Government are successful in replacing the present Sandinista government in Nicaragua with a 293 government better disposed towards them, there is, short of actual physical occupation of the country by United States marines, every prospect in those circumstances of continuing guerrilla activity similar to that now prevailing in San Salvador, and even in Guatemala?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, the United States Government have repeatedly stated that they wish to see political reform in central America through peaceful means, and we support that objective.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, does the fact that Her Majesty's Government are to establish a mission in Managua mean that the United Kingdom is to play a more positive role in Nicaragua? Will the noble Baroness further confirm that Her Majesty's Government support the United States in every detail in their policies, given that those policies do, in fact, encourage insurgency and civil war in Nicaragua? Further, can the noble Baroness say whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to help to ensure that the elections in Nicaragua in November are free and fair?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I can confirm that we have established a post in Managua. We see this as an important contribution to getting more information about this part of the world. On the noble Lord's second supplementary, as I have indicated, we have supported the objectives of the United States policy in central America, though we have made clear that we deplore the mining of the Nicaraguan ports, and we have made our concern on this matter clear to the United States Government. We understand that an election will take place in Nicaragua on 4th November.
§ Viscount Montgomery of AlameinMy Lords, in the context of central America, would my noble friend not agree that it gives considerable reassurance that elections have recently taken place in El Salvador with some success? Secondly, would she agree that the report produced by the British observers who attended the election in El Salvador is worthy of study by noble Lords? I hope that the Government will be able to give encouraging signs that they very much approve and that the British observers did a very fine job in El Salvador.
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for asking that question. As regards the elections in El Salvador, we were pleased to see the election of President Duarte. We have published the reports by our two observers on both the first and the second election. I agree with my noble friend that they are very satisfactory reports.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, is it not a pity that the Nicaraguans infiltrated guerrillas into El Salvador during the run up to the elections, and is it not also a pity that the United States is infiltrating guerrillas into Nicaragua during the run up to the Nicaraguan elections?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I have indicated that we have supported the work of the Contadora group, and we should like to see the return of democracy by peaceful means in all these countries. It is not for me to comment on the activities of the American Government.