§ 34. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement the Resolution on Algeria unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December, 1957.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe Resolution took note of the offer of good offices by Morocco and Tunisia, and then expressed the wish that "pourparlers" should be entered into, and other appropriate means utilised, with a view to a solution of the Algerian problem, in conformity with the 1191 purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It does not lie within the power of Her Majesty's Government to implement the terms of this Resolution.
§ Mr. BennIn view of the fact that in the most recent crisis between Tunisia and France Her Majesty's Government offered her good offices, would it not be proper and, indeed, appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to do the same with a view to bringing about a cease-fire in Algeria, since the Algerian war is in danger of involving the whole of Western Europe and, on the other side, the Asian and Arab world?
§ Mr. LloydI am aware of the dangers arising from the situation, but the case is different. In the case of Tunisia and France, we offered our good offices between two independent Governments.
§ Mr. BevanWould it not make for the greater effectiveness of Her Majesty's Government's desire to offer their good offices to Tunisia if we made as friendly references to Tunisia as to France?