Vol. 307 No. 7
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a statement dissociating the Irish Government from the action of our fellow EEC member state, France, in invading Shaba Province in Zaire, in defence of foreign investment there; and if he will lodge a formal protest with the French Government.
9.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the statement issued by the French Government that the invasion of Shaba Province, Zaire, was undertaken in close collaboration with other European Governments, prior notice of the action was given to the Irish Government; and, if so, if the Irish Government endorsed the proposed action.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 8 and 9 together.
It is my understanding that the action taken by the French Government was taken at the request of the Government of Zaire and was explicitly stated to be for the purpose of extending protection to French and other foreign citizens and to re-establish security pending the restoration of Zaire government authority. In the circumstances I do not accept that it is correct to characterise the French action as an invasion "in defence of foreign investment" as suggested by the Deputy.
I understand also that the action was preceded by consultation with certain other governments directly concerned, in particular Belgium, which also sent troops. The Irish Government were not given prior notice nor consulted in the matter. Subsequently on 20 May at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Nine at Hesselet the French Foreign Minister informed his colleagues of developments.
The developments which led to this action and the present situation in the area are by no means clear at this distance and our sources of information are necessarily limited. In these circumstances, and as no question of our being asked to endorse or to associate ourselves with the action has arisen, I do not believe it would be appropriate to issue a statement as suggested by the Deputy.
: Is it not the case that Mobutu is well known as a corrupt and decadent puppet of the western capitalist countries and that he has allowed his country to be pillaged by France, Belgium and so on while the unfortunate people of the Shaba Province, which is one of the wealthiest provinces in the world, live in conditions of extreme poverty? In the circumstances should we not express our dissatisfaction with this nineteenth century act of aggressive imperialism?
: The Deputy will appreciate that his question makes no reference whatever to the nature of standards being applied by the Zaire Government. In so far as he asked me if I would issue a statement dissociating our Government from actions taken on which he presumed we were consulted, my answer has clarified the issues for him.
: Does the Minister consider the action taken by the French Government to be conducive towards the establishment of a common foreign policy among the Nine? If the Minister does not so consider, will he indicate to the House whether he is prepared to make representations to the French or to the Belgians that they are not acting in the name of this country, which has the experience of being a former colony, when they undertake operations such as the one that happened in Zaire?
: That is a separate question.
: I do not think it is necessary to say to any Government, French or otherwise, that they are not acting in the name of this country because that is self-evident. It does not need to be indicated formally to them when, as I indicated, no consultations took place and no decisions on the part of our Government were communicated.
: Is it not a fact that a very serious position is developing in Africa in the fight over the enormously valuable resources there? It is on record that the CIA intervened in Angola and perpetuated a struggle there——
: The Deputy is going over a wide field. I am calling the next question.
: Is the same kind of thing now going on as indicated by the recent intervention by the French and Belgians? Should the Irish Government not take the initiative and condemn this kind of action?
: I am calling the next question.
: Have we no part to play as a non-committed nation in those sort of circumstances?
: We have indeed and the Irish Government have made their views well known——
: Sitting as quiet as mice.
: Not at all. I can assure the Deputy that we have been very effective.
