§ 78. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made towards the establishment by U.N.O. of an international police force.
§ Mr. MayhewI would refer the hon. Member to the reply on the subject given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) on 24th February last, to which I have, at present, nothing to add
§ Mr. LipsonIn view of the great interest that is being taken in this question and of its importance, can the hon. Gentleman say whether any real progress has been made and whether the representatives of the U.S.S.R are taking part in the deliberations?
§ Mr. MayhewThe answer to the second part is "Yes." The answer to the first 612 part is that I regret that very little progress is being made.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisCan the hon. Gentleman say whether His Majesty's Government are taking any steps to earmark a section of the Air Force for the service of U.N.O as the Charter provides?
§ Mr. MayhewThat would be another question.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs His Majesty's Government's representative on the Security Council encouraging the Chiefs of Staff Committee to get on with the fundamental basis of operation for an international security force?
§ Mr. MayhewThe arrangement is that the Military Staff Committee is accountable to the Security Council, but our Chiefs of Staff representative would not receive his instructions from our Security Council representative.
§ Mr. UsborneDoes the Minister realise that the proposal to create the United Nations police force differs from that under Article 43, and will he also state why it is that Britain does not take the lead in the creation of the United Nations police force?
§ Mr. MayhewI am aware of the distinction my hon. Friend has made. I assumed that the Question referred to Article 43 of the Charter, and as far as provision of that Article goes, I can say that His Majesty's Government are taking the strongest lead in this matter.