HC Deb 21 June 1965 vol 714 cc1165-7
3. Mr. Freeson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now initiate further negotiations to seek the admission into the United Nations Organisation of the People's Republic of China.

20. Mr. Hamling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the United Kingdom permanent representative at the United Nations to raise the question of representation of Communist China.

46. Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government since October, 1964 to secure the admission of China to the United Nations.

Mr. Padley

This is a matter which must be decided by a vote of the General Assembly. An item urging the "Restoration of the Lawful Rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations" was included in October, 1964, in the agenda of the 19th Session of the General Assembly, but the Session was adjourned before the item could be considered and the General Assembly is not expected to meet again before the autumn of this year. When the item was tabled in 1964, our representative was, as in previous years, instructed to vote in its favour. Similar instructions will be issued to him for the next Session of the Assembly.

Mr. Freeson

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, or the latter part of it—regrettable as the previous part may have been—may I ask him whether he will be prepared to undertake something more than instructing our representatives to vote for the particular proposition?—[Laughter.] This is not a laughing matter. Will my hon. Friend initiate negotiations with the other Powers concerned in order that we may stand a better chance of success in the future, particularly bearing in mind the very important rôle that this State, representing one-quarter of the world's population, must, whether we like it or not, play in the world's affairs in the future?

Mr. Padley

All the Governments concerned are well aware of the position of Her Majesty's Government. There will doubtless be a motion to seat China in the United Nations, and our delegate will vote in favour of it.

Mr. Hamling

I thank my hon. Friend for that very clear declaration of the attitude of Her Majesty's Government, but would he agree that at this stage in diplomatic relations in the Far East, the admission of China to the United Nations could do nothing but good?

Mr. Padley

I reiterate that Her Majesty's Government are strongly in favour of the Peking Government taking their seat in the United Nations. As to the broader issue of the international problems of the Far East and South-East Asia, we should certainly like to see a change in the attitude of the Chinese Government equally with regard to the acceptance of an exchange of ambassadors.

Mr. Lomas

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a growing feeling that it is not sufficient merely to be in support of the entry of China into the United Nations, but a matter of supreme importance that this country should make every effort to try to persuade other nations which have so far sought to exclude that part of the world from the United Nations to take a different view, and to do its very best to get China into the organisation?

Mr. Padley

As a natural part of the diplomatic practice of Her Majesty's Government, we seek to get other countries to share our point of view, and that we shall continue to do.

Mr. Peter Thomas

Whilst I appreciate that Her Majesty's Goverment are following the previous Government's policy, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman can say whether or not the People's Republic of China has expressed a wish to join the United Nations?

Mr. Padley

As far as I am aware, the People's Republic of China has not up to now said that it would refuse to be seated if there were a positive resolution of the United Nations. I think that we should all be wise to continue our efforts to secure the admission of the Peking Government to the United Nations.