HC Deb 01 November 1965 vol 718 cc115-6W
72. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about exchanges with the Portuguese Government about representation of the Rhodesian Government; and whether Rhodesian affairs are now channelled through the Rhodesian representative or through the British Ambassador.

Mr. M. Stewart

Her Majesty's Government's view on the question of Rhodesian representation in Lisbon has been explained on frequent occasions to the Portuguese Government during the last three months. Her Majesty's Government remain responsible for Rhodesia's external affairs and for the diplomatic representation of her interests in foreign countries. They cannot therefore agree to the Portuguese Government receiving a representative of Rhodesia in a capacity unacceptable to Her Majesty's Government, and would only accept the appointment of such a representative if he were to be formally a member of the staff of Her Majesty's Ambassador in Lisbon.

The Portuguese Government have throughout these exchanges recognised Her Majesty's Government's responsibility for Rhodesia's external affairs. But Mr. Reedman, who arrived in Lisbon on 15th September, has been officially received by the Portuguese authorities as a representative of Rhodesia, although not in the capacity of an "Accredited Diplomatic Representative" which is the title the Rhodesian authorities have claimed for him.

Mr. Reedman's presence in Lisbon does not affect the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government for the conduct of Rhodesia's external affairs with the Portuguese Government.