HL Deb 22 May 1963 vol 250 cc287-8

2.18 p.m.

LORD COLYTON

My 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 what arrangements have been made for the regular transmission by the Government of Indonesia to the Secretary General of the United Nations of information of an economic, social and educational nature in regard to West New Guinea in accordance with Article 73(e) of the Charter of the United Nations.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)

My Lords, I am not aware of any such arrangement.

LORD COLYTON

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that the Netherlands Government were regularly transmitting information under this Article until October last? May I also ask him whether he will give instructions to our Representative on the Fourth Committee at the next Session of the General Assembly to raise this question and to press very strongly that the Indonesian Government should be required to furnish this information, as all other colonial Powers do? It seems to me that there is no reason why a colonial Power should be relieved of its obligations simply because it is of Asiatic race instead of European race.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, I should be reluctant to express an opinion whether Article 73(e) applies in this case, if only because this would have to be considered in the light of the views of the Government principally concerned, and I should accordingly prefer to await the views of the Indonesian Government, whose comments have, I understand, already been sought by the United Nations Secretariat.

LORD COLYTON

But, my Lords, I do ask my noble friend to press this matter strongly. It is really a most monstrous example of double standards at the United Nations.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My noble friend is quite entitled to hold that view. I would remind your Lordships, from the point of view of the Government, that the responsibility for this territory was transferred only three weeks ago. I think we must wait and see what the response is to the request from the United Nations Secretariat.