– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 February 1954.
Sir Eric Fletcher
, Islington East
12:00,
17 February 1954
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protests have been made under the Anglo-Colombian Treaty of Friendship to the Government of Colombia about the widespread persecution of British Protestant Christians in that country.
Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker
, Banbury
Her Majesty's Government have made no protest to the Colombian Government under the Anglo-Colombian Treaty as there has been no breach of that Treaty.
Sir Eric Fletcher
, Islington East
Why not? Is the Minister not aware that during recent years therehave been 700 cases of religious persecution in Colombia, that 52 Protestants have been killed, 42 Protestant churches destroyed by fire and 110 Protestant primary schools closed? Are not these grounds for the most vigorous representations under the Treaty?
Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker
, Banbury
As far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, Article 15 of the Anglo-Colombian Treaty assures British subjects freedom of conscience and freedom of private worship. It does not confer upon British Protestants the right to seek converts in Colombia. As far as I am aware, all these attacks have not been on British subjects.
Mr James Griffiths
, Llanelli
Has not the Joint Under-Secretary of State made any inquiries to find out whether these allegations are true? Can he confirm or deny the truth of the allegations?
Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker
, Banbury
I do not think they are concerned with the Anglo-Colombian Treaty of Friendship, to which this Question refers.
Mr Lawrence Orr
, South Down
Has not my hon. Friend had extensive communications and documentation on this subject from my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim, South (Sir D. Savory)? In view of the intolerable persecution which is taking place, will he not make it clear to the Colombian Government that this form of persecution is viewed with acute disfavour by Her Majesty's Government and may seriously impair relations?
Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker
, Banbury
As I have informed the House, there are no grounds under the Treaty for taking action.
Mr Reginald Paget
, Northampton
Is Colombia a party to the Declaration of Human Rights? Cannot this matter be raised at theUnited Nations? Will Her Majesty's Government take steps to do that?
Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker
, Banbury
I suggest that that would be a proper place for this question.
Mr Luke Teeling
, Brighton, Pavilion
While I fully appreciate that we should do everything possible to stop persecution in every part of the world and of any form of religion, is it not quite possible that much of this so-called persecution is entirely due to the people mentioned taking part in some political isues in that country? If not, why has not the Archbishop of Canterbury made any public protest?
Mr William Morrison
, Cirencester and Tewkesbury
The Minister is not responsible for the Archbishop of Canterbury. The whole question is hypothetical.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
