§ 27. Mr. Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the atrocities committed by the security forces in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. RowlandsWe are not able to investigate allegations of specific atrocities committed by either side. But the regime have admitted publicly that civilians have been killed by the security forces for being in prohibited areas or while out after curfew. Published accounts by international organisations have also described incidents involving indiscriminate and ruthless action by the security forces.
§ 31. Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now publish the note submitted by Her Majesty's 229W Government in September to the Security Council's Committee on Sanctions against Rhodesia, accusing the USSR, Romania and East Germany of trading in metals and tobacco with the Rhodesian régime.
§ Mr. RowlandsYes. Because of the publicity it has aroused, and in order to set the record straight, I am prepared, quite exceptionally and without precedent, to place a copy of the Note in the Library of the House. These Notes are confidential documents to the United Nations Sanctions Committee. Although they name the countries concerned they make no accusations. They convey to the Committee information which appears to indicate sanctions breaking which merits further investigation.