HC Deb 22 October 1968 vol 770 cc1083-5
Q3. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Prime Minister if he will now announce his proposals for the agenda for the forthcoming Commonwealth Prime Ministers' conference.

The Prime Minister

It is not customary to publish the agenda for Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meetings, which must be settled by the 28 Prime Ministers themselves, as a result of sounding taken by the Commonwealth Secretary General.

Mr. Fraser

Will the Prime Minister try to ensure that the agenda is not dominated by divisive and pretentious items and that matters like overseas aid and trade will play a large part in the agenda of the conference?

The Prime Minister

Yes. That has been my hope for the last two or three conferences. Certainly in 1965 we were able to give adequate time to these subjects. I regret that in 1966 the preoccupation of the conference with Rhodesia—which lasted for eight days—meant that not only these issues but issues of very important world affairs received hardly any attention at all.

Q7. Mr. Archer

asked the Prime Minister whether, at the forthcoming conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, he will seek to initiate discussions for the establishment of a permanent Commonwealth Peace-keeping Force.

The Prime Minister

It is the policy of the British Government to work primarily through existing United Nations agencies in peace-keeping matters. The United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries have made, and are making, major contributions to United Nations peace-keeping activities.

Mr. Archer

Would my right hon. Friend agree that members of the Commonwealth are likely at the moment to have more confidence in a peace-keeping force if it consists of members of the Commonwealth? Could not this be a pilot scheme towards a United Nations force?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend will know of the offers we have made to the United Nations for permanent logistic assistance for a peace-keeping force. As long ago as February the United Kingdom took the initiative in sounding out certain Commonwealth Governments about arrangements for providing a Commonwealth peace-keeping force if that were necessary for keeping the peace and avoiding massacres in Nigeria.

Earl of Dalkeith

Why has the Prime Minister been so reticent in taking the initiative to set up a Commonwealth peace-keeping force in conjunction with Commonwealth Prime Ministers for use in such countries as Nigeria? Would this not be more sensible than sending a lot of arms to Nigeria and then using the taxpayers' money and assistance to help those suffering from the arms we send?

The Prime Minister

The noble Lord has raised a much wider issue which has been discussed many times at Question Time. In regard to the Commonwealth peace-keeping force for Nigeria, of course, both sides might prefer to have one supplied by the O.A.U. That we do not know. As early as last February I discussed this with the then Prime Minister of Canada. We expressed our willingness to take part, provided other Commonwealth countries did also, in a peacekeeping force for Nigeria.