§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many member countries who participated in the United Nations vote requiring an investigation into the status or affairs of the Rhodesian Federation are to any degree in arrears in their contributions to the United Nations Organisation.]
460§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, the noble Lord is, I think, referring to the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on February 23, requesting the Assembly's special Committee of Seventeen to consider and report whether Southern Rhodesia has attained a full measure of self-government. Of the 57 who voted in favour of this resolution, 30 were at the time in arrears with their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations for 1961 and, in some cases, earlier. Twelve of the 24 abstaining were similarly in arrears, but only one among the 21 voting against the resolution. If one adds those in arrears in contributions to the United Nations Emergency Force and to the United Nations operations in the Congo, the number of defaulters would, of course, be much higher—namely, 48 out of the 57 among those who voted in favour, 9 among those who voted against, and 21 among those who abstained.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I am afraid I am not very good at rapid arithmetic but the frightening character of that reply indicates the manner in which these international affairs are conducted. Bearing in mind the assurances that the Government have given that this country must continue to contribute to the special funds, apart from the basic contributions to the United Nations, can the noble Earl give any relief to our concern by saying whether there is anything in the mill, so to speak, or under consideration, to produce some reality into this Gilbertian situation of people voting without responsibility?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, under the Charter a country which is two years in arrears with its subscription loses its vote, but I do not think more than one or two of these countries have yet been in arrears for so long.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, if any country has been in arrears for two years has it not lost its vote?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEI am not sure that any has yet been in arrears for so long. There is one possibility, but I would rather have a separate Question on that.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEENot without notice, my Lords.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEYes, please.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I do not want to press the noble Earl, but can he give some encouragement to the House to believe that in the United Nations there is under consideration some system whereby this ridiculous situation is going to have early correction?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I think it will inevitably arise when these nations in arrears have continued to be so for a period of two years, unless they pay up their arrears before then.