HL Deb 13 July 1967 vol 284 cc1257-8

3.15 p.m.

LORD BYERS

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 Mr. Nils-Goran Gussing has been asked by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to make recommendations on the organisation needed to achieve the constructive rehabilitation and resettlement of the refugees in the Middle East.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)

My Lords, it was announced in New York on July 7 that the Secretary-General had appointed Mr. Nils-Goran Gussing to assist him in discharging the responsibilities laid upon him under paragraph 3 of the Security Council's resolution No. 237 of June 14 regarding the civil population and prisoners-of-war in the areas of conflict. Paragraph 3 requests the SecretaryGeneral—and now I quote— to follow the effective implementations of this resolution and to report to the Security Council. Her Majesty's Government naturally welcome any step designed to increase the United Nations' presence in the area—and welcome this step in particular.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, are we to take it from that that there is hope that some organisation will be given the responsibility for the long-term, constructive resettlement and rehabilitation of Arab refugees?

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

Certainly, my Lords, there must be hope; but I am afraid I am no better equipped than is the noble Lord to assess the extent of that hope at this precise moment. I should add that Mr. Nils-Goran Gussing is expected to visit all the areas occupied by the Israeli forces and will stay in the region for about a month. He will make his headquarters in Jerusalem.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, would it be possible for Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to make representations along these lines to the Secretary-General? Many of us are afraid that the oppor- tunity which has been presented for resettling the refugees may well be lost.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I am quite sure that our representative in New York—who is known to everyone in your Lordships' House as a man of extreme capability, ardent spirit and very high standing in these matters—is doing all that is possible. I cannot feel that what I have told the noble Lord to-day should be grounds for disquiet, but very much the opposite.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, has the noble Earl any further information about what the Israelis are doing independently in the way of settling the refugees, and whether the United Nations mission will co-operate with them?

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I am sure they will co-operate with anything that is being done; but I have no more recent information than has been given to the House previously. We have had a number of questions on this matter, including one this week.