HC Deb 21 December 1944 vol 406 cc1936-7
48. Mr. Vernon Bartlett

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the political difficulties involved in holding elections in liberated countries and of the importance of holding such elections with the least possible delay, he will propose the establishment of a United Nations commission to arrange and to supervise elections in those liberated countries which would welcome the commission's co-operation.

Mr. Attlee

I can see no advantage in a general commission of the sort suggested by the hon. Member. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary informed the House yesterday that His Majesty's Government would be prepared to help in supervising elections in Greece and would welcome the co-operation of their Allies. We should no doubt do our best to give similar assistance elsewhere if conditions demanded it and if it were clearly desired and requested by the Government and people concerned. But I believe and sincerely hope that such exceptional measures, involving close intervention in the affairs of another State, will not prove to be necessary in other liberated countries.

Mr. Edmund Harvey

Would not my right hon. Friend bear in mind the great success of the Saar Commission and similar experiments and international provisions?

Mr. Attlee

My hon. Friend will remember that was ex-enemy territory under certain very definite conditions. It is quite another matter going into a country which has a Government of its own and one has to wait there for an invitation or request.

Mr. Bartlett

Is it not a fact that in the Question, I made it clear that we should have to wait for an invitation or request, but is it not probable that the Governments in these different countries would be very much strengthened if they had support from the Allies and that support, as far as possible, should be civilian rather than military in nature?

Mr. Attlee

That is a matter for the Allies. I think I have answered my hon. Friend's Question and the answer shows our complete readiness to give assistance in all things where it is desired.

Sir H. Williams

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we have already passed three Acts of Parliament, have had one Speaker's Conference, and that there are two more Acts in the background before we can arrange an election in this not very disturbed country?

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