HC Deb 19 December 1960 vol 632 cc873-5
49. Mr. R. Edwards

asked the Lord Privy Seal how Her Majesty's Government voted at the United Nations on 14th December, 1960, on the resolution embodying a declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.

Mr. Heath

The United Kingdom abstained on the Afro-Asian draft declaration.

Mr. Edwards

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to an article in The Times of 15th December which stated that the Prime Minister intervened to get the support of President Eisenhower when the American Government had intended to vote for the resolution? Is he aware that we are in bad company here and that we abstained with Portugal, Spain and South Africa? May I remind him that this resolution followed the defeat of the Soviet Union's amendment and made no reference whatever to Colonialism? Is he aware that it is a very moderate resolution along lines to which all parties in the House have been subscribing for many years?

Mr. Heath

In abstaining on this resolution we did what we believed to be right, and I am sure that the United States did the same.

Mr. Callaghan

In view of the Government's lamentable record in the United Nations this session, is it not high time that our policy was reviewed? How does the Minister explain this series of abstentions, the latest of which was yesterday, when a resolution was carried by 90 voles to none, with three abstentions, of whom we were one, deprecating the policy of apartheid in South Africa? Why could not the Government vote for that, having accepted the Motion in the House on Thursday?

Mr. Heath

The Question which I am answering is about a completely different resolution, and I do not propose to answer questions about yesterday's debate. I do not believe that hon. Members opposite could have supported many of the statements in the Afro-Asian resolution on colonialism, on which we abstained.

Sir R. Grimston

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people are getting very tired of seeing these resolutions which are sponsored and supported by Russia, in which we are put on the defensive, when nothing is said about Hungary and similar matters? Is he aware that we are continually put on the defensive at the United Nations by these ridiculous resolutions?

Mr. Callaghan

Is not the Minister aware that I am not raising only the question of yesterday's debate but the whole question of the Government's policy on these resolutions and that—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is all out of order, because it raises a very different question.

Mr. Callaghan

I am raising the lack of consistency on the Government's part. They were very willing to condemn what happened in Hungary, and did so when the motion was put on the agenda, but they fail to condemn other nations in a similar state. What is the reason for this inconsistency? The Government supporters may have a bad conscience, but that will not prevent the facts from coming out.

Mr. Heath

We certainly cannot accept that the resolution on which we abstained deals with countries in a similar state to that following the Russian attack on Hungary. There are very good reasons why we abstained on the Afro-Asian motion on colonialism, which was against the whole tenor of British colonial policy under many Administrations.

Mr. Callaghan

What is the difference—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I call the Minister of Agriculture, to answer Questions Nos. 71 and 74.