§ 47. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the principles on which Her Majesty's Government extend recognition to new administration achieving power, otherwise than by constitutional means; and whether there has been any change or modification in British practice in regard thereto.
§ Mr. FoleyAs my right hon. Friend, the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said in the House on 27th February, 1967, the general practice which Her Majesty's Government have followed in relation to sovereign States is to recognisede jure a Government, established by revolutionary action, when Her Majesty's Government consider that the new Government enjoys, with a reasonable prospect of permanence, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of much the greater part of the territory of the State concerned. Her Majesty's Government must, of course, take due account of special circumstances relating to any specific instance, including any United Nations or other international action. There has been no recent change or modification in this practice.—[Vol. 742,c. 6–7.]