HC Deb 25 June 1958 vol 590 cc402-3
14 and 15. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what action he has taken, or proposes to take, through the United Nations Organisation, to clarify the responsibilities and powers of the individual members of the United Nations Observer Corps on the Israeli-Arab borders; what steps he is suggesting should be taken to strengthen their authority; and what action is to be taken to provide more assurance for their personal security;

(2) if he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations to press for the necessity for the fullest possible inquiry into the shooting of Lieutenant-Colonel Flint, Chairman of the Israeli-Jordanian Mixed Armistice Commission.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)

I am sure that this House would wish to be associated with the sympathy already expressed to the Canadian Government on the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Flint. On 17th June the Secretary-General of the United Nations circulated a report on the matter by the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. This document is available in the Library of the House.

I think it is for the Truce Supervision Organisation itself and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to say what support they need to enable them to carry out their task. But Her Majesty's Government have always made it plain that they stand behind Mr. Hammarskjold in this, and I know he has been taking a very active interest in the matter just recently.

Mr. Beswick

Is the Minister aware that I speak with some feeling on this matter since I had the privilege of spending some time in the company of Colonel Flint a few weeks before he was shot through the head on Mount Scopus? I distinctly remember his saying to me that as a professional soldier he did not mind being shot at but that he did wish to know what was the objective to be secured. Is it not a fact that we are posting men out there with immense responsibilities but with practically no powers and no means of self-protection? Have we not a special responsibility, as the United Kingdom Government, to ensure that we look to the basic causes of unrest there, and that if we have a United Nations Force it is not only charged with responsibility but has powers to carry out this responsibility?

Mr. Lloyd

There is a great deal in what the hon. Member said, if I may say so. We will certainly pursue the matter with the Secretary-General.