HL Deb 24 October 1985 vol 467 c1369WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of their demand for the release of Mr. Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), and the proposal by the Government of the United States of America that the South African Government should negotiate with the ANC, they will invite Mr. Tambo, the acting leader of the ANC, for discussions at the Foreign Office when he visits London.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

We believe that the release of Nelson Mandela would serve as an important gesture of national reconciliation. It would not be appropriate to invite Mr. Tambo for discussions in view of the fact that the ANC advocates the violent overthrow of a sovereign government with which we have full relations.