§ 3.6 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy 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 any arrangements have yet been made for the fulfilment of Articles 18–21 of the Treaty between the Netherlands and Indonesia of August 17, 1962, under which self-determination is promised to the people of West Irian before the end of 1969, and in which the United Nations Representative is to report to the Secretary-General on the conduct of the Act of Self-determination and the results thereof.]
612§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are not aware that Indonesia has yet made any such arrangements. There are, however, well over four years to go before the expiry of the time limit for self-determination, and Indonesia is not required under the terms of her Agreement with the Netherlands to make these arrangements at this stage unless she wishes to.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, do the Government consider that the withdrawal of Indonesia from the United Nations has made any difference to her obligations under this Treaty, under which the United Nations has to be consulted about the arrangements for the Act of Self-determination and also to report upon its conduct after it has been carried out?
§ LORD WALSTONNo, my Lords. This is primarily a bilateral Agreement between the Netherlands Government and the Indonesian Government, with the United Nations standing in the role of, as it were, a third party. The withdrawal of Indonesia from the United Nations makes no difference to this at all.