§ Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are applied by Her Majesty's Government in considering the recognition of a new country, as contrasted with the recognition of a new régime in an existing country.
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§ Mr. HattersleyThe criteria have not changed since the answer given by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 27th February 196; to a similar Question, namely
The general practice which Her Majesty's Government have followed in relation to sovereign States in Africa, as elsewhere, is to recognise de jure a Government, established by revolutionary action, when Her Majesty's Government consider that the new Government enjoy, with a reasonable prospect of permanance, 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 any specific instance, including any United Nations or other international action."—[Vol. 742, c. 7.]The criteria are similar in the case of the establishment of a new State.