§ 12 and 13. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in view of the statement of Prime Minister Makarios, in his reply to the proposal for a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation force for Cyprus, that only an international force authorised by the Security Council would be consistent with the obligations of the United Nations Charter and acceptable to Cyprus, he will now seek the approval of the Security Council for such a force;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government, in their reply to Prime Minister Makarios' note on forces in Cyprus, will give an assurance that they will endeavour to reach a political settlement through the institutions of the United Nations and on the basis of respect for the obligations of the Charter.
§ 19. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the Cyprus situation, following the meeting of the Security Council.
§ Mr. P. ThomasSince the Security Council discussed Cyprus on 27th December, we have made one report to the President of the Security Council and have kept the Secretary-General of the United Nations regularly informed. We are now considering with the United States, Greek and Turkish Governments what reply should be sent to Archbishop Makarios as a result of the comments received from him on 4th February on the proposal by the United Kingdom and United States Governments for the establishment in Cyprus of an allied peace-keeping force. Obviously any force despatched must be acceptable to the Cypriots. Meanwhile, we shall certainly continue to observe our obligations under the United Nations Charter. Negotiations and discussions are now in progress, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations will be making a statement later this week.
§ Mr. ZilliacusI am, of course, grateful to the hon. Gentleman for saying that the Government will observe their obligations under the Charter and will not send forces unacceptable to the Cypriots—meaning, I take it, the Cypriot Government—but does that mean that he recognises that the Charter denies the right to resort to force or to use forces for any purpose except defence against armed attack without the authorisation of the Security Council? Will he further give an undertaking that any attempt to achieve a political settlement will take place on the basis of the Charter obligations enjoining respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of Cyprus and, therefore, ruling out any form of partition; and still more, no threat of withdrawing British forces and giving the green light to Turkish invasion if the Cypriot Government refuse the terms?
§ Mr. ThomasI think the best way I can answer the hon. Gentleman is to refer him to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has just sent to President Khrushchev.
§ Mr. R. HendersonIn view of the importance of giving the proposed international force a United Nations status, would not the Government consider the desirability of appointing General Gyani, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Cyprus, as the commander of the proposed force and also attaching to the force a number of United Nations observers?
§ Mr. ThomasThe right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate that discussions and conversations are going on at the moment, and I am sure that he would not wish me to go into any detail on the matters he has raised.