PORTUGAL (Severance of trade relations)

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the reputed action of Portugal in Angola, consideration will be given to the question of severance of trade relations between Singapore and Portugal.

The Prime Minister: Sir, may I say that the people of Singapore and the Members of this Assembly cannot overstate our abhorrence at the atrocities perpetrated by the Portuguese colonial regime against the African people of Angola. These atrocities which the Member for Anson has kindly referred to as "reputed action" had been proved by many independent observers and documents. I am sure the House will want the Government to do whatever we can to help the people of Angola in their fight for freedom against these brutal methods of suppression. However, I am informed that the severance of trade relations between Singapore and Portugal would be of no assistance whatsoever to the people of Angola. Our imports and exports to Portugal and her dependencies is a negligible proportion of our entrepot trade.

Sir, the case that I recall as having been discussed by the Government is that of South Africa. Although we as a Government wanted to ban imports, we could not ban consumption of South African goods without at the same time affecting our free port status and also preventing the transhipment in Singapore for other countries of goods from South Africa. Similarly, in the case of Portugal. If we sever trade relations and ban the imports with the purpose of banning consumption, then because we have no impounded warehousing system we will automatically also have to ban all imports even for transhipment elsewhere. For that reason, I am informed that very little will be gained by severing trade relations and sonic damage may he done to our free port status.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, I accept the validity of the indications given by the Prime Minister for the reason of not disrupting our trade relations with Portugal, but if we are not to do that in order to show our disapprobation of the inhuman blood bath in Angola, would the Prime Minister indicate what other action it is possible for the Government to take and what action he would consider taking?

The Prime Minister: Sir, I am told the normal discourtesy in these matters, when one does not want to cut one's own nose to spite oneself, is to isolate coldly, or put into cold storage the representative of the country representing Portugal. I have not known of any ceremonial occasions to which he has been invited since Angola. I cannot speak with certainty on these matters, but I am quite sure it will give all of us some sense of satisfaction at having expressed our detestation by conveying through the representative our utter contempt for his Government in acting that way in Angola.

Of course, if there are more effective methods of hurting them without hurting ourselves, I shall be very happy to receive the proposals.

Mr David Marshall: Is there no method by which the public could be associated, not in private social matters but publicly, to give them the satisfaction of expressing their deep anger?

The Prime Minister: Sir, I am not saying this is international convention or practice, but I think, from time to time, what happens is that one brings effigies of the President of the country before the legation of the Embassy and symbolically burns and beats the person to death, hoping, by the process of pinpricking the idol and black magic, that some harm would befall the person some thousands of miles away. I do not know how we can do this here, and whether there is an honorary consul on whom we can work these witchcraft methods. But if there is any way to do them harm - most important, of course, is that it must not do us harm - I am all for it.