35. Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made in the United Nations Committee of Thirty-three on the future of peace-keeping.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping resumed its meetings on 16th February and is to report to the Special Session of the General Assembly on 21st April. Her Majesty's Government hope that the Committee will consider seriously the possibility of recommending practical measures along the lines of those which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined in his speech to the General Assembly on 11th October, 1966.
Mr. WilliamsWould my hon. Friend keep up his pressure on France and the Soviet Union in respect of payment for peacekeeping? I wonder whether he is in a position to confirm a rumour that the Soviet Union is considering paying a sum of money for so-called voluntary peace-keeping?
§ Mr. ThomsonI have seen the reports, but I am not in a position to confirm them. On my hon. Friend's first point, the Soviet reply on peace-keeping has been very disappointing and does not encourage one to believe that these issues will be resolved. I am putting in the Library copies of the recent speech made by the British delegate on this subject.