§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD BIRDWOODMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are prepared to press for the immediate recall of the General Assembly of the United Nations to consider the Hungarian question, in view of the grave deterioration in conditions in that country.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, since the publication of the Report of the United Nations Special Committee on Hungary, Her Majesty's Government have consistently 273 advocated the recall of the General Assembly of the United Nations as soon as practicable to consider both the Special Committee's Report and the current state of affairs in Hungary. The reconvention of the Assembly does not, however, depend on Her Majesty's Government alone. As the majority of the Governments who wish to see the Hungarian question considered further by the United Nations favour a meeting in September, that appears to be the earliest date at which an effective debate could take place.
§ LORD BIRDWOODMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his reply, I want to ask this supplementary question—that is, whether he can give your Lordships any reason why it is impossible to reconvene the General Assembly before September.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the majority of the sponsors of the resolution favoured a meeting in September, a view which was based largely on the practical difficulties of assembling a number of Ministers and senior delegates in New York until that date.
§ LORD BIRDWOODMy Lords, may I ask one more question? Is the reason that senior Ministers cannot be reassembled because Ministers are on holiday?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am sorry that I cannot give the reasons why the Ministers of Governments other than our own are unable to be present. I have no doubt at all that our own Minister concerned could be present even though the Assembly met earlier.