§ 1. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the United Nations Security Council, he will sponsor a resolution to make mandatory the ban on arms supplies to South Africa.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Roy Hattersley)The United Nations Security Council is empowered to pass mandatory resolutions where it is established that a threat to international peace and security exists. Although we regard the South African Government's racial policies as detestable and dangerous, we do not consider them to pose such a threat.
§ Mr. AllaunAs it is, however, the Labour Government's policy to ban British arms supplies to South Africa, why do we not press to make it mandatory on others, particularly after Soweto? Would not a mandatory ban block the 1340 loopholes effectively? As regards my right hon. Friend's last point, have not recent events in Namibia, Rhodesia and South Africa itself now made South Africa a threat to peace?
§ Mr HattersleyI do not think that a mandatory resolution would necessarily automatically be applied in the total way that my hon. Friend is suggesting, though if that were so I would share with him the regret that that is sometimes the response of some countries. Our basic obligation is both to reiterate our views on apartheid and to pay proper respect to the regulations governing the conduct of the United Nations. In doing that, I cannot in all conscience say that the terms of the United Nations procedures enable us to have the processes and follow the forms that my hon. Friend suggests.