CONGO (Hansard, 4 December 1961)

§ Mr. Warbey
I desire to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the violation by Her Majesty's Government of Articles 25 and 49 of the United Nations Charter by obstructing the execution of decisions of the Security Council in regard to the Congo, including Katanga Province, and their violation of Article 100 of the Charter in seeking to influence members of the Secretariat in the discharge of their responsibilities. I should like to make a brief submission in support of my claim that this is within the Standing Order. First, it 935 may be argued that this is not a definite matter, because there are two matters contained in the Motion. I suggest, however, that the second matter is subordinate to the first, namely, that the charge of seeking to influence members of the United Nation's Secretariat is subordinate to the main question—the main charge—of obstructing the carrying out of the Security Council's decisions.
Secondly, I am not putting this forward on the basis of any statement made by a person for whom Her Majesty's Government are not responsible. It is perfectly true that charges have been made against the Government by Dr. O'Brien, but these charges have also been made in this House. I am repeating them in this Motion, and I take full responsibility before the House for making these charges.
Thirdly, I think that the statement of Dr. O'Brien is relevant, because it has brought the matter to a head, and has made it imperative that the Government, without any delay whatsoever, should make a statement in answer to these charges. I am astonished that the Government should have so low a view of their prestige and honour—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—that they have not made a statement.
The Guardian—and I think that this is within the submission—in a leading article today, concludes with the words: The Government ought to consider this"— that is, Dr. O'Brien's statement—
as an urgent priority. Finally, I believe that it has been ruled that the question of public importance is a matter for the House as a whole, but I would add that I cannot think that any matter is of greater public importance than the loyalty of this country to the United Nations.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman asks for leave to move the Amendment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, 936 the violation by Her Majesty's Government of Articles 25 and 49 of the United Nations Charter by obstructing the execution of decisions of the Security Council in regard to the Congo, including Katanga Province, and their violation of Article 100 of the Charter by seeking to influence members of the Secretariat in the discharge of their responsibilities. I cannot accept the application, for I cannot conceive the Motion to be within the Standing Order.

§ Mr. Warbey
Will you be kind enough to indicate the position, Mr. Speaker? I accept your Ruling, but it is suggested that this matter may be the subject of a Government statement later this week. In fact, I think that Questions have been tabled for answer on Wednesday. If the matter is further referred to in the House during the course of this week, may I ask for an assurance that the fact that you have not accepted my Motion does not prejudice the possibility of my bringing it forward again later?

§ Mr. Speaker
All my Ruling relates to is the application at present made by the hon. Member, which I do not conceive to be within the Standing Order.

Mr. H. Wilson
You are aware, Mr. Speaker, that my right hon. and hon. Friends and I this morning sought to table Private Notice Questions on various aspects of the Katanga situation. Your Ruling, which, naturally, we all accept, was that in one sense they were not in order and that they were also anticipatory.
In view of the general interest in this subject, may we take it that your Ruling on my hon. Friend's attempt to move the Adjournment of the House will not prejudice our coming before you again in an attempt to raise this matter? We hope that that will not be necessary if the Leader of the House listens to the appeal made by my right hon. Friend this afternoon.

§ Mr. Speaker
The right hon. Gentleman understands to what my Ruling relates. It does not relate to anything else.