HC Deb 11 March 1953 vol 512 cc1288-9
54. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what legal advice he sought when he made inquiries into the proposal for the exclusion of General Chiang Kai-shek's representative from the United Nations Organisation.

Mr. Nutting

It is not clear to what proposal the hon. Gentleman refers. In replying to recent suggestions that the Chinese seat on the Security Council should be declared vacant, my right hon. Friends and I have been guided by the legal advice normally available within the Foreign Office.

Mr. Donnelly

Is it not a fact that the Minister of State, in a statement in the debate on 5th February, said that in any case the matter was finally a matter for the General Assembly of the United Nations, and was the right hon. Gentleman basing that statement on the legal advice he received at that time?

Mr. Nutting

My right hon. Friend said that was a matter for the United Nations General Assembly. That is the fact of the matter.

Mr. Donnelly

Is there any reason why the Government——

Mr. Speaker

Question time is now over.