HC Deb 21 July 1966 vol 732 cc867-8
Q7. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Defence at a meeting of Socialist Commentary in London on 25th June about the present peacekeeping capability of the United Nations represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend made no statement of policy on this subject on that occasion.

Mr. Blaker

Is the Prime Minister not aware that it has been reported that his right hon. Friend said on that occasion that there is no chance at present of the United Nations being able to carry out the task of a policeman east of Suez? If that is so, who will be responsible for helping with the defence of South Arabia if she needs help?

The Prime Minister

What my right hon. Friend actually said was that there was no chance at present of the United Nations being able to take over the policing or peace-keeping task which we have been carrying out in pursuance of our Commonwealth and other obligations. This is not a statement of Government policy, as asked for in the Question, but states the fact.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I do not think the Prime Minister has quite faced up to the quotation from his right hon. Friend's remarks. If the British Government are to give up their obligations to defend South Arabia and the United Nations, according to the Secretary of State, is incapable of taking them on, on whom are the Southern Arabians to rely?

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend was not referring to the situation in South Arabia. I have quoted what my right hon. Friend was actually saying on the occasion. The position is, as we have said many times in this House, that this country cannot take on unilaterally the role of world policeman in South Arabia and the rest of the world. We have to do whatever we can within our resources, without overstraining them, for the United Nations, the Commonwealth and our allies.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

But does the right hon. Gentleman say that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not use the words that there was no chance at present of the United Nations being able to carry out such a task?

The Prime Minister

I have quoted the exact words used by my right hon. Friend as he has told them to me, and I do query the accuracy of what, I think, is the Sunday Times report from which the right hon. Gentleman is quoting. The words I have quoted are the words used by my right hon. Friend.