HL Deb 13 December 1966 vol 278 cc1547-8

2.45 p.m.

LORD CONESFORD

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—

  1. (1) whether they have noted the resolution unanimously passed by the United States Senate on 22nd October and previously passed by the House of Representatives, urging the President
    1. (a) to direct the attention of world opinion to the denial of the rights of self-determination to the peoples of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and
    2. (b) to bring the force of world opinion to bear to restore these rights to the Baltic peoples;
  2. (2) whether they share this desire that these rights shall be restored; and
  3. (3) what action, if any, the United Nations Committee on the ending of colonialism has taken to secure the restoration of these rights.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have noted the resolution. They have not recognised de jure the incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union. They consider that the peoples of these States should be able to exercise self-determination. No resolution relating to the Baltic States has been passed by any organ of the United Nations.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for that clear Answer and ask him this: has this United Nations Committee shown any concern whatever for the oppression of subject peoples in any case in which the oppressors are Communists?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government on various occasions in the United Nations, when it has appeared appropriate and there have been discussions on decolonisation, have drawn attention to such cases as those the noble Lord has in mind.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, while we agree with the embodiment of these principles internationally, only last week, when we supported these three principles, the Conservative Party voted against us on Rhodesia?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I am well aware of the point my noble friend has made.

LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURY

My Lords, does not the answer to this question reveal the double standards in operation at the United Nations?