HC Deb 07 December 1964 vol 703 cc1060-2
33. Lady Tweedsmuir

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the use of Article 19 of the United Nations Charter, which deprives member States of their vote if they are over two years in arrears with their financial contributions to the Organisation.

35. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions are being issued to the United Kingdom delegation at the United Nations with regard to the voting rights of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under Article 19 of the Charter.

Mr. George Thomson

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to work for a settlement of the Article 19 issue in accordance with the United Nations Charter. We consider that under that article States two years or more in arrears with their contributions have no vote in the General Assembly. I ought to emphasise that we do not regard this as an East/West confrontation but as a question of principle under the Charter of the United Nations, the authority of which must be upheld if the rule of law in international affairs is to be maintained and the United Nations effectively strengthened.

Lady Tweedsmuir

Will the hon. Gentleman say what kind of proposals for a compromise he is considering, since he has stated acceptance of the principle of the International Court's judgment so clearly? Will he also state the Government's attitude to the 59-nation Afro-Asian group's suggestion for shelving the matter indefinitely in order that the General Assembly may both vote and work?

Mr. Thomson

The Government and my noble Friend, Lord Caradon, are doing all they can to assist in getting a settlement of this matter in accordance with the principles I have just described. This matter is under active negotiation in New York at the moment and I would not wish to say anything which might prejudice those negotiations.

Mr. Wall

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the Government's expectation that this matter will be settled during the present General Assembly session?

Mr. Thomson

We all hope that it will be settled, because Her Majesty's Government are very anxious, as I hope to explain to the House a little later, to enhance the peace-keeping operations of the United Nations, and this must be the first step towards that.