HC Deb 13 April 1964 vol 693 cc14-20
16. Mr. F. L. Mallalieu

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the Security Council that steps be taken to seek to give the United Nations peace-keeping force in Cyprus legal competence over individuals on the island when the latter are impeding the United Nations mandate.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No, Sir. I do not think this necessary. The Secretary-General has it fully in mind that the United Nations force must have adequate powers to fulfil its functions and he has concluded a Status of Forces Agreement with the Cyprus Government which defines the relationship between the force and the Cypriots. This agreement, which has been circulated as a Security Council document, is available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Mallalieu

Since none of us knows what the mandate is which the Secretary-General of the United Nations has given to the United Nations troops, could not Her Majesty's Government at least say that they think it desirable that the troops should be able to disarm persons who are against the peace in the particular area to which they are called? Must they just wait to be shot at before they can act?

Mr. Butler

That question was Question No. 13 which was not called, but which I shall answer with Question No. 22. I am referring only to the Status of Forces Agreement in this matter. I shall be answering the hon. and learned Gentleman in a few minutes.

Mr. M. Foot

How was it decided whether the Foreign Secretary should answer this Question or whether it should be handed over to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be better if he were left to deal with this Cyprus problem instead of having the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations barging in on it?

Mr. Butler

Cyprus is a Commonwealth country and my right hon. Friend is Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations; hence, he answers Questions on Cyprus. When Questions relating to international relations concerned with Cyprus are put to me, I have great pleasure in answering.

21. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the creation of a peace-keeping force for Cyprus; what are the terms of reference to guide the mediator; and whether the terms have been agreed by both Cypriots and Turks.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The United Nations force was established operationally on 27th March. It will be composed of contingents provided by Britain, Canada, Ireland, Finland and Sweden. Of these, the British and Canadian contingents are already carrying out their duties. I understand that the bulk of the Swedish contingent is in the course of joining the force in Cyprus, together with advance elements of the other contingents. The force is expected to be fully constituted later this month.

As I shall explain in answer to Question No. 22, the United Nations Secretary-General has said that he does not intend to elaborate on the terms of reference of the mediator set out in paragraph 7 of the Security Council resolution of 4th March. That resolution was accepted by all the interested parties.

Mr. Shinwell

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that, since the United Nations accepted responsibility for peace-keeping activities in Cyprus, we have been kept completely in the dark about the rôle of our troops in Cyprus? Nor have we any information about whether both the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have accepted the terms of reference. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in these circumstances, and particularly in view of the build-up of 30,000 Greek Cypriot troops, it is time that the United Nations declared publicly what the terms of reference are and what the rôle of our troops there is likely to be and, if not, to withdraw our troops from Cyprus?

Mr. Butler

I was to have dealt with this matter in answer to Question No. 13, but the hon. Member who put it down was not here to call it and I shall, therefore, be answering it with Question No. 22 and some other Questions on this matter. If the right hon. Gentleman will wait until then, he will get the answer.

22. Mr. E. L. Mallalieu

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will seek to secure the agreement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to publication of the note outlining the functions of the United Nations force in Cyprus, sent by the Secretary-General on 17th March to all the Governments concerned; and whether he will make a statement.

23 Mr. Gordon Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has approached the Secretary-General of the United Nations about the publication of the terms of reference of the United Nations force in Cyprus.

28. Sir J. Eden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he was consulted as to the general objectives of the United Nations Emergency Force in Cyprus; and if he will now give the terms of reference in support of which British troops have been committed.

13. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what directives have been given by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to its force in Cyprus; and what are the mediator's terms of reference.

Mr. R. A. Butler

As the House will be aware, the general scope and purpose of the United Nations operations in Cyprus are laid down in the Security Council resolution of the 4th March. On the basis of the mandate contained in this resolution the Secretary-General has prepared a general directive to the United Nations force commander in Cyprus and the latter has issued an operational directive to his troops.

I have been in touch with the Secretary-General and explained that while it would be understood in the House that it is not the normal military practice to disclose the contents of orders to commanders in the field, yet there is a general desire for greater information of the conditions under which our troops are serving. The Secretary-General has informed me that he regards both his own directive to General Gyani and the latter's operational directives as confidential documents. This is in accordance with the procedure followed in the Congo operations.

In reply to questions submitted by the United Kingdom Mission in New York, the Secretariat of the United Nations has now made available an aide memoire relating to the function and operation of the United Nations peace-keeping force in Cyprus, including conditions in which armed force may be used and I have arranged for a copy of this document to be placed in the Library of the House. In the view of Her Majesty's Government it provides acceptable bases for the conduct of the operations in which our troops are participating under United Nations command.

As regards the terms of reference of the mediator, the United Nations Secretary-General has said that he does not intend to elaborate on those set out in paragraph 7 of the Security Council resolution of the 4th March. His purpose is to leave the mediator as free as possible in his actions.

Mr. Mallalieu

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is at present no world law under which United Nations troops should act if called into a particular trouble spot, and do not recent uncertainties in Cyprus, and before that in the Congo, indicate very strongly that it is desirable to have that world law known in advance—for instance, when they may disarm people who are disturbing the peace? Will the Government take steps to initiate discussions with a view to an agreement on minimum world law, which is necessary if these troops are efficiently to carry out their functions?

Mr. Butler

I think that if the hon. and learned Gentleman reads the aide mémoire he will find the answer to most of the points he has raised, and secondly, if he will read the Status of Forces Agreement, which I can make available to him, he will see the relationship of the forces to the ordinary civilian population of Cyprus. These two documents do, I think, go a very long way to answering his question.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Whatever the aide mémoire may or may not say, is it not revolting to the average thinking British people that British troops should almost daily be arrested by Cypriots? If this cannot be rectified, are we not justified in withdrawing our troops to the base and letting them get on with it?

Mr. Butler

Our troops have had a great many most aggravating circumstances to put up with, but on the whole I am sure that up to date we have done the right thing both in going into Cyprus and now in taking part in the United Nations force. We must hope and pray that the circumstances and the aide mémoire will enable our troops to act with dignity and with success.

Sir J. Eden

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the House will welcome the answer he gave and will look forward to having an opportunity of studying the aide méemoire, but could he say at this stage whether this aide mémoire will cover intervention from outside by reinforcements for the dissident elements, notably any which may be coming from other N.A.T.O. countries?

Mr. Butler

No. It relates to the activities of the United Nations forces, and these are broader questions which I shall be glad to answer if my hon. Friend will put down a Question.

Mr. Gordon Walker

We must, of course, read the aide mémoire before making up our minds about this, although from what the right hon. Gentleman has said I am not sure whether this is going to be altogether satisfactory. Is he not aware that the House does attach very great importance to knowing and being able to discuss the terms of reference which govern the use of our own troops in any capacity whatsoever? I wonder if the right hon. Gentleman would be prepared to say a word about the possible use of British police there? I appreciate that he may want notice of this, but, on the other hand, he is not going to answer Questions for quite a long time. Would they go under this directive? Thirdly, can he say whether the Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed to this directive which has been issued by the Secretary-General to the United Nations?

Mr. Butler

The answer to the latter point is that the directive was issued entirely upon the authority of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Could the right hon. Gentleman remind me of his other point?

Mr. Gordon Walker

The police.

Mr. Butler

On the question of the police, I am aware that I am not answer- ing Questions first for some time, but as we have only just received this request, I think it would be irresponsible to give an answer since we are just giving it consideration.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer a simple question, if I may be permitted to put one to him, namely, does the aide mémoire provide that our troops in Cyprus are to adopt a passive or active role? Surely that question should be answered? Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the situation has become highly critical in Cyprus with the rapid build-up of Greek Cypriot troops, and what is to be the position of our troops if they are attacked?

Mr. Butler

Certainly the aide mémoire provides for an active rôle in support of peace, and I think it is for each to read and form his own conclusions.

Mr. Kershaw

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the anxieties of this House will be graver if the directive does not clear up the position of the police who go out if they are asked for? Would it not be very unsatisfactory if they should be made to look as ridiculous as our British troops have been? Will he ensure that any police who do go out will be entirely volunteer?

Mr. Butler

We shall have to look further into the question of the police and I could not answer any Questions on it today.