§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy 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 now take steps to urge upon the Security Council and the United Nations Secretariat the necessity for the immediate creation of a separate and permanent naval, military and air force, together with the necessary military government or civil affairs component, created, controlled and paid by, and owing sole allegiance to, the United Nations, and with its own general officers and staff.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, as I made clear in my Answer to the noble Lord's Question on May 24, the creation of a permanent United Nations peace-keeping force is our ultimate goal, but is something which in present circumstances is unfortunately impracticable. Meanwhile, we hope that useful progress can be made as a result of current discussions in the United Nations about ways of strengthening the peace-keeping capacity of the Organisation, in which my noble friend Lord Caradon and his staff have played a prominent part, and by the system of earmarking national contingents for peace-keeping operations. We have, of course, made an important contribution to this with our offer of logistic support for such operations.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, while being disappointed once more in that reply, may I ask the noble Lord whether 732 Her Majesty's Government will consider establishing a staff, because while being very useful, that would not be very costly and would be well within the capacity of Her Majesty's Government and of other members of the United Nations?
§ LORD WALSTONI am afraid that I am not quite clear as to what form of staff the noble Lord is referring. Is he referring to a general staff in this country as opposed to the United Nations' General Staff? If it is a United Nations' General Staff, I am afraid that is not for Her Majesty's Government to establish. It is for the Secretary-General to recommend that such a staff should be established.
I do not want to give the noble Lord the impression that I am in any way against his suggestion. I am very much in favour of anything which will further this aim, which we both have at heart. Certainly we shall continue to do all that we can to persuade the United Nations of the advisability and desirability of some international Force, and undoubtedly, if the establishment of a General Staff meets with approval, we will give it our fullest support.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, do Her Majesty's Government really consider that the United Nations is to be trusted with the control of an international armed Force?
§ LORD WALSTONYes, my Lords.