HC Deb 19 April 1944 vol 399 cc177-8
1. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that no agreement has been signed between members of the United Nations which would prevent enemy territory being transferred on the ground of international security to members of the United Nations without the consent of the peoples of the enemy countries concerned.

The Minister of State (Mr. Richard Law)

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have signed no agreement of the kind indicated by my hon. Friend with any other member of the United Nations.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Is it not a fact that the suggestion contained in this Question would be a definite violation of the provisions of the Atlantic Charter?

Mr. Law

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to statements made by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary on that subject not so very long ago.

Mr. G. Strauss

But does not the Atlantic Charter specifically state that there shall be no annexation of territory without the consent of the populations concerned? How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the reply he has just given?

Mr. Law

This is not the occasion casually to debate the Atlantic Charter. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements, to which I have referred, made by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary. If he reads them, I think his mind will be clear on the subject.

Commander Locker-Lampson

May I ask whether Heligoland—

Mr. Speaker

rose.