HC Deb 03 May 1948 vol 450 cc881-2
19. Mr. George Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will call the attention of the Security Council of U.N.O. to the fact that a democratic regime has not been established in Spain and to ask the Council to consider the adequate measures to be taken to remedy the situation, as promised in the resolution of the General Assembly at its 59th plenary meeting on 12th December, 1946.

Mr. Mayhew

I would remind my hon. Friend that the situation is governed by the General Assembly's resolution of r7th November, 1947, which expressed confidence that the Security Council will exercise its responsibilities under the Charter as soon as it considers that the situation in regard to Spain so requires. The view of His Majesty's Government, which was expressed at the time when the above resolution was passed, is that in these circumstances the Security Council is only required to act in the event of a situation developing in Spain the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a democratic regime has not yet been set up in any country in Eastern Europe?

Mr. Fernyhough

There was not any before.

Mr. Anthony Nutting

Will the hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Security Council of U.N.O. to the fact that the one way to ensure that no democratic regime emerges in Spain is to pursue the present policy of ostracising it?

Mr. Mayhew

I do not agree with the criticisms of our present policy implied in that last question. Our attitude to Spain has been made perfectly clear and we stand by our established policy.