§ 53. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why an assurance given on behalf of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office to the Gibraltar Minister for Public Relations last year in Gibraltar, was broken last week when a statement concerning 537W renewed talks with Spain was given several hours earlier to the Spanish service of the British Broadcasting Corporation; on whose instructions this was done; and whether he will give details of the protest made by the Gibraltar Government.
§ Mr. William RodgersMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary received the Spanish Ambassador on the morning of 20th October and made proposals to him for further talks with Spain. A Foreign Office spokesman later made a statement to the Press and the Spanish News Service of the B.B.C. carried this item in their newscast at 2.15 p.m. The text of the Foreign Office statement had previously been telegraphed to the Governor of Gibraltar. No protest has been made by the Gibraltar Government.