HC Deb 05 March 1964 vol 690 cc1528-32
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Peter Thomas)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a statement on Cyprus.

As the House will know, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Cyprus yesterday. Part of this resolution recommends the creation, with the consent of the Government of Cyprus, of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus. The composition and size of the force is to be established by the Secretary General, in consultation with the Governments of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The Commander of the force is to be appointed by the Secretary General and to report to him. The force is to exist for three months, all costs pertaining to it being met in a manner to be agreed upon by the Governments providing the contingents and by the Government of Cyprus. The Secretary General may also accept voluntary contributions for this purpose.

The function of the force will be, in the interest of preserving international peace and security, to use its best efforts to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions.

The resolution also provides for the Secretary General to designate, in agreement with the Cyprus Government and the Governments of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, a mediator, who is to use his best endeavours in promoting a peaceful solution and an agreed settlement of the problems confronting Cyprus.

Since the Secretary General will now be immediately considering and discussing with all concerned the problems of the composition and direction of the force, as well as the appointment of the mediator, it would not be proper for me to anticipate the results of his efforts. All I need say is that we are most anxious that they should meet with success as soon as possible.

Her Majesty's Government greatly welcome these arrangements and look forward to their bringing peace to the island of Cyprus. I think, at the same time, the House will wish me to pay tribute to the British Forces who have for the last three months performed such magnificent service in the troubled conditions of the Island.

Mr. Gordon Walker

First, I should like to associate myself with what the hon. Gentleman said about the magnificent conduct of our troops in Cyprus. We are all very proud of them indeed.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware, first, that we greatly welcome the news of the decision of the Security Council? There are many of us who think that it might have come earlier if the Government had attempted to get this earlier instead of trying to get a N.A.T.O. force and so on. Would the hon. Gentleman agree that perhaps in the long run the most important feature of the decision is that for the first time a permanent member of the Security Council has been invited to participate in peace-keeping opera tions, and that this opens out very great prospects for this country as a world Power in peace-keeping, if, of course, we pursue the right kind of defence policy?

Mr. Thomas

With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, it is, as has frequently been pointed out in the House, in accordance with United Nations Charter for the parties first to seek a solution by peaceful means of their own choice. Unfortunately, our efforts to promote a solution in accordance with the provisions of the Charter failed. We therefore took the matter to the Security Council. As to the second part of the supplementary question, I certainly agree with everything the right hon. Gentleman said.

Mr. Hastings

Would not my hon. Friend agree that three months is a very short time in the circumstances? Will there be provision for extending the period if necessary? Also, will the mediator be asked specifically to study the question of partition, and would not my hon. Friend feel that this, in some form, is likely to be the only possible long-term solution to the problem?

Mr. Thomas

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, the Security Council resolution prescribes a three months' period. If this has to be extended, it can be extended by a resolution of the Security Council. As to the second part of the supplementary question, I am afraid that I cannot anticipate what the rôle of the mediator will be.

Mr. Wade

Might I join in paying tribute to the British Forces in the island, and at the same time welcome the unanimity of the Security Council resolution? In order to remove misunderstandings, is the hon. Gentleman in a position to indicate the views of Her Majesty's Government on whether the decision of the Security Council affects, directly or indirectly, the London and Zurich Agreements guaranteeing the existing constitution and providing for the continuation of British bases in the island?

Mr. Thomas

No, Sir; it does not affect the treaty of guarantee in any way.

Mr. A. Henderson

Would it not help to remove the fears that exist in the island and greatly facilitate the tasks of the mediator and the United Nations peace force if the Cyprus Government were to stop any further distribution of arms, call in those that have been distributed and agree to place their augmented security force of 5,000 under United Nations command?

Mr. Thomas

As to the first two parts of that supplementary question, I would certainly agree with the right hon. and learned Gentleman. With regard to the last part, one would hope that a United Nations force, which would be created with the agreement of the Cyprus Government, would be one to which they would give their full co-operation.

Mr. Bottomley

Can the hon. Gentleman state whether the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries are to play a part in providing the force for the United Nations? Also, would he ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations there have been with Commonwealth countries, and when?

Mr. Thomas

The countries which will take part in providing the force will be those which, after consultation with the Secretary-General, agree to take part, and certainly the United Kingdom expects that it will take part in the force.

Mr. F. M. Bennett

In his last statement on this matter, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations rightly deplored the import of arms, smuggled and otherwise, into the island. Can my hon. Friend say whether this traffic has slowed down or, better still, stopped altogether?

Mr. Thomas

I am afraid that I could not answer that question without notice.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the hon. Gentleman indicate what is to be the actual size of the forces that are to be contributed towards the peace-keeping force in Cyprus? How many troops will it consist of? Will there be any ancillary forces—aircraft and the like? Can he say what will be the actual contribution of British Forces to the peace-keeping force. If the hon. Gentleman is unable to reply to this Question—it is an important one; we ought to know exactly what contribution the United Kingdom is to make—will his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War be able to deal with it in the course of his statement on the Army Estimates this afternoon?

Mr. Thomas

No, Sir; I do not expect that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War will be able to do so. As I have said, the composition and the size of the force have to be established by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Governments of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Therefore, it would be impossible to say what the size of the force should be until these consultations have taken place. One thing that we can say, and we have made it perfectly clear, is that we ourselves cannot continue to carry the burden indefinitely.

Sir J. Eden

Can my hon. Friend indicate how the force is to be paid for'?

Mr. Thomas

Yes, Sir. The force is to be paid by the Governments concerned, and, also, the Secretary-General hopes to receive voluntary contributions.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us—he was a little vague about it—how sure he is that British troops will take part in the peacekeeping operations? Are there firm assurances of this in the arrangements that have gone on behind the talking, or are we really not sure at all whether or not we shall be invited to take part?

Mr. Thomas

I hope that I did not give the impression that I was sure that British troops would take part. I said that I expected that British troops would take part. As I have said, the composition and size of the force have to be established by the Secretary-General after consultation with the countries that I have mentioned, and until those consultations have taken place it will be impossible to be emphatic.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We cannot debate this now.