§ 20. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the United Nations in respect of negotiations with the Government of the Union of South Africa about their responsibilities, as a mandatory power, for the administration of South West Africa, particularly with regard to their recognition of human rights in that territory.
§ 26. Mr. Wadeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations the representative of Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations has had with the Secretary General of the United Nations with regard to the possibility of negotiating with the Government of the Union of South Africa concerning their responsibilities, as a mandatory power, for the administration of South West Africa.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, informed the House on 31st March, the position is that at its recent session the General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting the Union Government to enter into negotiations with the United Nations through its Committee on South West Africa or any other committee which the Assembly might appoint. The 1244 Assembly also requested the Union Government to formulate, for consideration at its fifteenth session this autumn, certain proposals for the administration of South West Africa.
The Committee on South West Africa decided in February that its Chairman, Senor Fabregat of Uruguay, should make an approach to the South African Permanent Representative in New York on the possibility of opening negotiations on South West Africa. No further announcement has been made.
The House will appreciate that the General Assembly has not placed on the Secretary-General responsibility for negotiations.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Minister aware that the inhibitions which the Government feel about interfering in the internal affairs of another Commonwealth country should not operate in respect of South West Africa, which is essentially a United Nations question? Will the Government, therefore, correct the unfortunate impression created by their abstention on the South African resolution before the Security Council by taking the initiative within the United Nations on this question of South West Africa to try to get negotiations going which will put an end to the racialist policies being operated there?
§ Mr. ProfumoThe United Kingdom is not a member of the Committee on South West Africa and it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to intervene in its affairs.
§ Mr. WadeWill the Minister agree that there is an obligation on the United Nations, and therefore on Great Britain as a member nation, to ensure that the original mandate which the International Court recognised is carried out? In view of the appeals that have been made by the Herero people and the evidence that the terms of the mandate are not being observed, will Her Majesty's Government be prepared to support any proposal for international supervision of this territory?
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir. We have always thought that the only possible way of securing a solution to this problem was by getting the co-operation both of the Government administering the territory and the United Nations.
§ Mr. CallaghanIs it not the case that the United Nations has asked the South African Government on at least three occasions, if not more, to account for their administration of the area? As the South African Government consistently flout that decision, although this territory is not theirs, although they are the trustees for it—and as other countries including the United Kingdom have accounted for their mandates in other territories—why should not the Government now reverse their previous position and be ready to support some move to take back from the South African Government responsibility for this territory?
§ Mr. ProfumoThis matter is in the hands of the responsible committee of the United Nations and we must leave it to that committee to work the thing out.