HC Deb 19 July 1962 vol 663 cc627-9
Q3. Mr. Milne

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs about the United Nations on Friday, 13th July, at the annual meeting of the General Council of the United Nations Association, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Q4. Mr. Prentice

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the General Council of the United Nations Association about the United Nations on 13th July represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Q7. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech on 13th July by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the United Nations Association about the United Nations represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. The speech was a forceful exposition of our support for the United Nations and a statement of our disquiet at some of the tendencies which we discern in the Organisation.

Mr. Milne

Does the Prime Minister realise that this speech represented a marked improvement on the one made at Berwick-on-Tweed on 28th December? Will he note that in the course of making this speech the Foreign Secretary said, comparing the United Nations with the League of Nations of pre-war days, that he did not want to see another great idea destroyed by short-sighted attitudes? Will he bear this in mind?

The Prime Minister

I will pass to my noble Friend the tribute which the hon. Gentleman has paid him.

Mr. Prentice

Although the speech contained some formal declaration of support for the United Nations, does not the Prime Minister think that the part which was bound to be repeated throughout the world was the sanctimonious lecture to the newer countries on their double standards? Cannot he persuade the Foreign Secretary to drop this attitude? Does he think that this kind of talk about double standards is convincing from a Government who supported the Suez operation?

The Prime Minister

I think that it is very important, if the United Nations is to do its task successfully, that it should try to keep within its own rules.

Mr. Zilliacus

Is not the Prime Minister aware that the Foreign Secretary's persistent attacks on the great majority of the nations of the world represented in the General Assembly because they demand an end to colonialism shows how completely out of touch with the modern world he is, and that the Prime Minister's attempts to give the Government a more attractive preelection image by a surgical operation will fail so long as he keeps this nuclear Neanderthal at the Foreign Office?

The Prime Minister

The best thing I can do is try to put the hon. Member in touch with his hon. Friend the Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne).

Mr. P. Williams

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the majority of the nation thoroughly welcomed the plain speaking and frank expression of honest criticism of the United Nations and would wholly deplore it if this country were automatically to support actions of the United Nations in places like the Congo which are aimed at suppressing freedom?

The Prime Minister

I thought that the Foreign Secretary gave a good and balanced account of the whole situation.

Mr. Gaitskell

Does the Prime Minister agree with the extraordinary statement made by his hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) that the United Nations intervention in the Congo was in the terms which the hon. Member described? Would he not make it plain that Her Majesty's Government support the United Nations' attempts in the Congo to maintain peace and to secure a proper settlement?

The Prime Minister

We are very anxious Chat this matter should be settled within the terms of the resolution by peaceful negotiations and not by warlike action.

Mr. Shinwell

While declaring personally that the United Nations should not regard itself as immune from criticism, may I ask whether the real complaint against the Foreign Secretary is not that if he feels disquiet about the activities of the United Nations, the best place in which to express that disquiet is at the General Assembly?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. He has done that and I have tried to do it.