§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies has been in no way affected by the recent exchanges with Argentina; and whether he will make a statement thereon.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeTalks about communications took place in Buenos Aires between 21st and 30th June between British and Argentine delegations, the former including participants from the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands Dependencies were not discussed. British sovereignty has been in no way affected by the talks.
As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said on 6th July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. 446W Tebbit), the talks were ad referendum to Governments. They led to the initialling by heads of delegation of a draft Exchange of Notes protecting the position of both sides with regard to sovereignty, and a draft Joint Statement containing a plan for easier communications between the Falklands and Argentina without in any way affecting the status of Falkland Islanders as British subjects. If the plan is implemented, our sovereignty will at the same time be protected by the Exchange of Notes.—[Vol. 820, c. 346–7.]
§ Mr. Fordasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full text of the recent agreement concerning communications between the Argentine and the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. KershawAs I told my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Tebbit) on 6th July, the documents initialledad referendum in Buenos Aires have been placed in the Library of the House. When the documents have been approved by Governments I will arrange for them to be reproduced in full in the OFFICIAL REPORT. —[Vol. 820, c. 346–47.]