HC Deb 06 March 1957 vol 566 cc332-3
11. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking for the establishment of a United Nations Anti-Slavery Commission.

Mr. Ian Harvey

I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks of my hon. Friend the then Joint Under-Secretary when replying to the Adjournment debate on Anti-Slavery Conventions on 21st December last. I have nothing to add.

Sir L. Plummer

Is the Minister aware that the Arab slave trade is booming at the moment, supported nobly by Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia? Is he further aware that the patrols which the British Government organised along the Arabia-African slave routes in the 1930s put slavery down? Will not he now give support—and ask his right hon. and learned Friend to give support—to the resuscitation of an international organisation to put an end to this disgraceful and barbaric trade?

Mr. Harvey

Yes, Sir, but the point is that we are awaiting a United Nations initiative in this matter at the present time. The initiative does not rest with us.

Mr. Nicholson

Will my hon. Friend stimulate that initiative? Does not he realise that there is uneasiness in all sections of the country, and not only about the Middle East? There are parts of South America where slavery is carried on to a serious degree, and all the evidence shows that it is on the increase in various parts of the world.

Mr. Harvey

I note what my hon. Friend says.

Mr. Younger

Can the hon. Gentleman say what he means by "awaiting United Nations initiative"? Does that mean that we are awaiting some move by the Secretary-General? Is he aware that most initiatives in the United Nations have to be taken by leading members of the United Nations?

Mr. Harvey

If the right hon. Gentleman will study the Answer which I gave one of his hon. Friends on 28th January he will see that we are unable to ratify the Convention until certified copies in all five official languages of the United Nations have been received from the United Nations Secretariat—and they have not yet been received.