HC Deb 28 June 1948 vol 452 cc1810-1
12. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British representative at the Security Council did not support the Soviet proposal for each of the Security Council members to be invited to send five officers to the Palestine Truce Commission.

Mr. Mayhew

The Soviet Delegate proposed that the Security Council should attach to the United Nations mediator a number of military observers to be appointed by the members of the Council other than Syria. Only two delegates voted in favour of this proposal, which was made at a time when the mediator had already formed a staff of military observers in co-operation with the three Governments represented on the Truce Commission. It was for this reason that the United Kingdom Delegate, together with eight of his colleagues, abstained from voting for the Soviet proposal.

Mr. Piratin

The Under-Secretary has not really answered the Question why our representative abstained from voting. When the hon. Gentleman answers that in a further supplementary answer, will he at the same time also explain how it was that we refused to support this Motion, when Count Bernadotte had been asking for 30 other observers to be sent there?

Mr. Mayhew

I can only say that I have given the reasons quite plainly. The principal reason is that satisfactory arrangements had already been made at the request of the United Nations mediator.

Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

Can my hon. Friend state the nationality of the observers who are now working in Palestine under the supervision of the mediator.

Mr. Mayhew

They are nationals of the Truce Commission Powers.