HL Deb 21 November 1963 vol 253 cc444-5
LORD OGMORE

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 whether they will present to Parliament a full report of the circumstances whereby West Irian was handed over by the United Nations to the Republic of Indonesia, what safeguards were included in the transaction destined to protect the indigenous people and what steps Her Majesty's Government, as a Member of the Security Council, are taking to ensure that inspections and reports are made by United Nations officials relating to the welfare of the West Irianians.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CARRINGTON)

My Lords, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has already given such an account in chapter II, section 15, of his Annual Report on the work of the Organisation for 1962–63. The safeguards for the indigenous peoples of West Irian are contained in Articles XIV to XXI of the Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning West New Guinea, United Nations Document A/5170 of August 20, 1962. Both of these documents are available in the Library of the House. Inspections and reports are not required of the Secretary-General by the Agreement, or any provision of the United Nations Charter, except in respect of the final act of self-determination. This need not take place until 1969, and it is entirely within the discretion of the Secretary-General as to when he should report about it.

LORD OGMORE

But, my Lords, is it not the duty of Her Majesty's Government to see that the Secretary-General makes a continuous survey of the situation? And is it not absolutely incredible that Her Majesty's Government and the other members of the Security Council should have handed over these poor people to Indonesia without making any proper safeguards for their welfare?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I do not think that is quite true. I do not think it is a fair representation of what happened. In point of fact, there is provision for the Secretary-General to designate experts who will visit the territory from time to time under the terms of Article XVI of the Agreement, and this is stated in section 15 of the chapter to which I have already referred.

LORD OGMORE

But will Her Majesty's Government press him to do this? That is the point. Are not Her Majesty's Government responsible, as a member of the Security Council; and will they press the Secretary-General to make use of these powers?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, the Secretary-General has already said that he intends to do that.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, may we ask the Government, in any event, for a very early report?

LORD CARRINGTON

There is a report on these matters every year from the United Nations, as I understand.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

I am not asking for an Annual Report. This matter has been shown to your Lordships to be important, and I think the Government ought to undertake to get more information and report to the House.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I think there is perhaps some misunderstanding about that. We have no evidence whatever that the Indonesian Government are not carrying out their obligations under the Agreement.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, we will come back to this subject again.