HC Deb 27 May 1957 vol 571 cc8-10
21. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the forthcoming United Nations Charter Review Conference, he will make a statement on the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for strengthening the authority of the United Nations.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

It has not yet been decided when a conference to review the Charter will be held. Her Majesty's Government favour the holding of such a conference and on 3rd June the Committee appointed by the Tenth Session of the General Assembly in 1955 will meet to consider the question of fixing a time and place for a Charter Review Conference, and its organisation and procedures.

This Committee, will not itself review the Charter.

Until there has been agreement about this Conference, it would be premature to make a Government statement on proposals for amending the Charter.

Mr. Henderson

As the Foreign Secretary has repeatedly criticised the United Nations for not possessing sufficient authority to deal with many international crises, can we take it that the Government are at least considering positive proposals which they may put forward in the event of the Conference being held?

Mr. Lloyd

We are certainly considering positive proposals for improving the Charter. My complaint has been not so much of the lack of the power to do things as of the lack of a common will to do things.

Mr. Pitman

May we assume that the proposals for improving the Charter are for strengthening the United Nations and that it is not improvement by way of weakening it? It is an ambiguous situation. and we should like to know which of the two it is.

Mr. Lloyd

I should think that we should seek measures which will make it easier for the United Nations to exercise a common will.

Mr. Henderson

Has not the Foreign Secretary repeatedly said that all that the General Assembly could do was to make recommendations? If that is the position, surely the Government will seek to strengthen the powers of the General Assembly?

Mr. Lloyd

There comes into the matter the very difficult question of voting procedure, whether there should be weighted voting, and so on. At the moment, it is possible for a majority to be found from very small countries which have little responsibility, and this majority may overrule other more responsible countries.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Will the Foreign Secretary give an assurance that the Government will not again put forward the ill-judged proposal which they made to the Americans and Canadians at Bermuda, that the "Uniting for peace" resolution should be rescinded?

Mr. Lloyd

I am not at all aware of the premise upon which the right hon. Gentleman bases his supplementary question. I am not aware of any such thing.