HC Deb 08 November 1955 vol 545 cc1650-1
46. Mr. Pitman

asked the Prime Minister whether he will approach President Eisenhower and Marshal Bulganin to make a joint proposal to the United Nations that a new wing of the United Nations should be formed which shall have responsibility and power and be separate from the present wing which has only advisory functions and influence, and such new wing be given responsibility in respect of limited functions, such as oil pollution, fishing and submarine cables in a limited area such as Antarctica and the oceans not now claimed or desired by any nation.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir; while I understand the motive that lies behind my hon. Friend's Question, I am sure that oil pollution, fishing, and submarine cables are best dealt with, as at present, by international agreement.

Mr. Pitman

Is the Prime Minister aware that the decision of Her Majesty's Government to support a revision of the Charter met with widespread approval, and will he, in instructing the delegation for that conference, ask them to give to the United Nations some effective means of government and not limit them in the future always to report and advise and nothing else?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend will know how immensely difficult are these questions connected with the high seas, if only because countries have widely varying views about what territorial waters should be. That is one of the reasons why it makes this not easy to handle.