HC Deb 04 April 1979 vol 965 c733W
Sir John Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many past occasions a British ambassador has been withdrawn from his post when diplomatic relations have not been severed as has occurred in the case of Chile; and on what grounds this action has been taken.

Mr. Tomlinson

The withdrawal of a British Ambassador or High Commissioner without a severance of diplomatic relations has occurred in the following cases in the past 10 years:

  1. (a) Uganda. On 13 October 1972 the High Commissioner was withdrawn following a request from President Amin in the context of the expulsion of the Asian community from Uganda.
  2. (b) Chile. On 30 December 1975 the Ambassador was withdrawn following the torture while in detention of a British subject resident in Chile.
  3. (c) Argentina. On 19 January 1976 the Ambassador was withdrawn at the suggestion of the Argentine Government following developments concerning the Falkland Islands.
  4. (d) Nigeria. On 4 March 1976 the High Commissioner was withdrawn on grounds of unacceptability to the Nigerian authorities.