HC Deb 15 December 1960 vol 632 cc596-8
42. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister the nature of his reply to the proposals from the Prime Minister of India that the Security Council of the United Nations Organisation should be enlarged.

43. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Prime Minister what communications he has received from Mr. Nehru relating to proposals for enlarging the Security Council.

The Prime Minister

It would not be in accordance with the normal conventions for me to disclose what passes between Commonwealth Prime Ministers and myself.

Mr. Wyatt

Surely the Prime Minister has some views on the proposal of the Prime Minister of India that the United Nations Security Council must be made more representative? Cannot he tell the House the views he may have about it? He is quite willing to think aloud to American journalists. Cannot he tell us something?

The Prime Minister

The Question does not ask for my views. It asks what communications I have had with another Prime Minister of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Gaitskell

The Prime Minister of India said in the Parliament of India that the basic change required in the United Nations was in the constitution of the Security Council to make it more in tune with world realities, particularly in Asia and Africa. That is an extremely important statement. Cannot the Prime Minister say what is the attitude of Her Majesty's Government?

The Prime Minister

Not by question and answer following a Question like this.

Mr. G. Brown

In his previous reply the Prime Minister said that the Question did not ask for his views but for the nature of the communications he received. May I draw attention to what is contained in Question No. 42 on the Order Paper? It is: To ask the Prime Minister what was the nature of his reply … to a communication received. That indeed is the basis for asking what are his views. Therefore, I repeat the question of my hon. Friend. May we not be let into the secret?

The Prime Minister

And I repeat my reply that they were confidential between two Prime Ministers in the Commonwealth.

Mr. Brown

Is it a secret club?

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Zilliacus.

Mr. Brown

It is secret.

The Prime Minister

No, confidential. There is a system of confidence—

Mr. Speaker

Order. As a result of an audible interruption we have become out of order. I called the hon. Member for Gorton to ask Question No. 46.

The Prime Minister

It is so complicated.