HC Deb 18 January 1967 vol 739 cc408-10
12. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent the defence policy of Her Majesty's Government now envisages major operations of war east of Suez in the 1970s otherwise than on the authority of the United Nations.

43. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Her Majesty's Government's defence policy in the 1970s envisages any major war operations other than on the authority of the United Nations.

Mr. Healey

We cannot exclude the possibility that such operations may take place. Our policy would, of course, be governed by the first of the three "general limitations" set out in paragraph 19 of "The Defence Review"; and our ability to participate might well be affected by the other two.

Mr. Mayhew

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the idea of our military intervention on the mainland of Asia, outside the United Nations, with dwindling resources, is becoming an increasingly doubtful and dangerous proposition? Is he also aware that this insistence on a world military rôle is increasingly making nonsense of the Government's policy in Europe?

Mr. Healey

As always, I have some sympathy with the points raised by my hon. Friend, but, as always, he fails to balance the good points that he has to make with other considerations which he ignores. I do not think that the majority of Members on either side of the House would wish the Government, in advance and without knowing the circumstances, to renounce all future capability for making a contribution to the peace in the part of the world which we all agree is likely to be the main source of international instability over the next ten years.

Mr. Roberts

Would my right hon. Friends agree that it would be a very major contribution to world peace if this Government categorically said that they would undertake major military operations only on the authority of the United Nations? Would he further agree that it would be an even greater contribution if we could get our American allies to do the same?

Mr. Healey

With respect to my hon. Friend, to make such a pledge, and even more to carry it out, would be to tell countries which are capable under the United Nations Charter of preventing the United Nations from taking action, if there is a threat to peace, that they were perfectly free to go ahead and use their military forces as they wished to commit aggression.

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

Will the Secretary of State try to make clear to his hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) that in his close discussions with the Australians, to which he referred a moment ago, he did take the point that they have made so strongly, that the States in South-East Asia need the assurance of strong friends to enable their economic and constitutional systems to evolve in a way we all hope to see?

Mr. Healey

I did indicate that general line of policy when I was in Australia, and I think my hon. Friend is well aware of that.