§ 38. Mr. Wallasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the recent Anglo-American discussions in the United States of America about the future of the United Nations and other matters of joint concern.
§ Mr. HeathThese talks were part of normal Anglo-American consultation on United Nations matters. No decisions were reached but there was a detailed and useful exchange of views.
§ Mr. WallCould my right hon. Friend say what discussions took place about the purchase of United Nations bonds? Will he bear in mind that at a time when we are asked to exercise economy in this country many people think it undesirable to make this investment?
§ Mr. HeathBoth the United States Government and Her Majesty's Government supported the motion when it came before the United Nations and Her Majesty's Government are now giving consideration to the matter.
§ Mr. GaitskellAre not the United States Government working out proposals for reform of the United Nations in various ways, and were these matters discussed in the talks which the right hon. Gentleman had with the Americans?
§ Mr. HeathYes, Sir; those taking part had a general discussion about the future organisation of the United Nations. I think that both the United States and we recognise the difficulty in bringing any of the proposed changes about. Some of the proposals, of course, we have put forward in the past, for instance, for the reconstruction of the Security Council and of the Economic and Social Council. We are faced with the difficulty of the Russian veto.