HC Deb 11 April 1974 vol 872 cc635-6
Q6. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the United Nations.

The Prime Minister

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 4th April to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters).—[Vol. 871, c. 432.]

Mr. Blaker

Is the Prime Minister aware that his right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary is reported to have said yesterday that the Government intended to be more positive in their activities in the United Nations? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that a good way to start is by appointing as permanent representative to that body a man who, however worthy, has stated publicly that if there is another General Election within the next six months he hoped and assumed that he would be a candidate in that election?

The Prime Minister

I have seen the statement which was made last night by my right hon. Friend, and I have heard extracts on the radio, as have other hon. Members. I think that we are all extremely pleased with the line taken by my right hon. Friend.

We have made clear, as we did between 1964 and 1970, that we want someone with political experience to hold this appointment. Mr. Richard, who was well known as a Member of the House until a few weeks ago, is particularly well-qualified, and is respected for his knowledge of and concern with the Third World and the problems of the Third World, which some of us feel were a little neglected in the United Nations by the previous Government.

Mr. Mendelson

When the Prime Minister visits the United Nations Assembly, as I hope he will, and speaks to it as he has done in years past, will he recall that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said on 27th March, in reply to a Question, that the Government will support any move made in the United Nations on the matter of human rights in Chile? Since the Foreign Secretary made that statement there have been further accounts of the murder of political opponents of the régime. Many of my right hon. and hon. Friends, at any rate, are deeply dismayed by the Foreign Secretary's announcement yesterday afternoon that the supply of arms to this military dictatorship is to be proceeded with. Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that because of the Adjournment of the House, and because of the method which the Foreign Secretary has chosen, which precludes his being questioned in the House, no such material will be moved to Chile before 29th April, when the House resumes, when the Adjournment can be moved and we can debate the matter?

The Prime Minister

I recall and endorse what my right hon. Friend said about raising these matters in the United Nations. My hon. Friend will be aware that we have introduced a total ban on new arms contracts. The question of the ships, which I think is a matter that concerns my hon. Friend, raises many other matters that I am sure will be fully debated in the near future. My hon. Friend has asked a number of questions on this matter, both oral and written. I can assure him that the issue is not quite as he puts it.