HC Deb 29 November 1961 vol 650 cc405-6
1. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress the Government has made during the last two months towards securing the admission of the People's Republic of China to a seat on the Council of the United Nations Organisation.

4. Commander Kerans

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is Her Majesty's Government's present policy towards the admission of Communist China into the United Nations.

71. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now urge in the United Nations that the Chinese People's Republic be given a place in the Organisation in order that a realistic approach can be made towards solving the problems in South-East Asia and the Far East.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Edward Heath)

As has previously been stated in the House Her Majesty's Government believe that the Chinese People's Republic should be represented in the United Nations, but any decision on the subject will have to be taken by the United Nations as a whole.

Two items dealing with Chinese representation have been inscribed on the agenda for the current session of the General Assembly. Neither has yet been reached.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Lord Privy Seal agree that it is impracticable to seek the world peace which we all desire while excluding China, one of the largest and most powerful nations in the world? Will he declare that it is part of the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek to give China the opportunity of joining the counsels of the United Nations?

Mr. Heath

I have made that plain in my original Answer.

Commander Kerans

Does not my right hon. Friend think that Her Majesty's Government are a little unrealistic, bearing in mind that it is eleven years since the present Government of China took over and that for the first time in history we have a stable Government in China? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is one thing which we can do to further trade with that country and for the benefit of peace?

Mr. Heath

The difficulties surrounding this subject are well known to the House.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that in September a spokesman of Her Majesty's Government said in New York that if a Resolution to grant the Government of Peking the Chinese seat on the Council of the United Nations were brought forward we should vote for it? Does that still hold good?

Mr. Heath

We have not yet seen the form of the Resolution which will emerge in that debate. We must wait until we do.

Mr. Noel-Baker

On the substance, do the Government still stand by the proposition that we should vote for the seating of China.

Mr. Heath

I have stated the Government's policy in substance in my original Answer.

Forward to