HL Deb 20 November 1963 vol 253 cc436-7WA
LORD BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can confirm words attributed to Sir Patrick Dean at the United Nations that the internal policies of the South African Republic were "evil and abhorrent," and if so will they caution him in future to make references in a language less repugnant to a friendly country which takes such a large volume of imports from us, and in which this country has such massive investments.

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)

I assume the noble Lord is referring to the statement made by Sir Patrick Dean to the Security Council on August 7. His exact words were:—We in this Council are all agreed that the policy of apartheid is evil—it is also totally impracticable—and will lead eventually, but inevitably, to disaster in South Africa itself.

In so speaking, Sir Patrick Dean correctly reflected the views of Her Majesty's Government which have been publicly expressed on many occasions.