HC Deb 16 December 1942 vol 385 cc1897-8
13. Dr. Haden Guest

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what date it is proposed to call the next meeting of the representatives of the United Nations, which last met at St. James's Palace in September, 1941?

Mr. Eden

As my right hon. Friend the Deputy-Prime Minister informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 14th October, these meetings are not held at stated intervals but for specific purposes as occasion requires. No meeting is at present contemplated.

Dr. Guest

Is it not desirable that there should be an early meeting of representatives of the Allied Nations, as this is the present repository of international authority and will be the repository of international authority in the post-war world, in order that a statement on behalf of what will be the future world international authority should be made with regard to present conditions and the future?

Mr. Eden

I would not like my hon. Friend to think that the meetings at St. James's Palace are the only ones. Of course, there are a great many other meetings which are not as formal as those at St. James's Palace where we do our work together. There are several such meet- ings, and they frequently occur. In regard to the second part of the question, perhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement I hope to make very soon on that subject.

Dr. Guest

In view of the fact that at the last meeting a very important statement was made by the Ambassador of the Soviet Union, is it not desirable to have another early meeting at which other nations which have now joined the cause of the United Nations should also have an opportunity to make what declarations they may think fit?

Mr. Eden

I would like to look up what my hon. Friend has in mind.

Mr. Mander

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the considerable propaganda value to the world of public meetings of this kind?

Mr. Eden

I have that very much in mind. I realise the value of these public meetings, but I also feel that we probably do much more useful work in our private meetings.

Mr. Mander

But the world does not know about it.