HL Deb 01 August 1968 vol 296 cc398-9
LORD BROCKWAY

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 what action they have taken to secure the implementation of the United Nations resolution on the Middle East, which the United Kingdom representative on the Security Council initiated in November, 1967.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government consider that it is best left to Dr. Jarring, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, to decide on how progress can best be made towards putting the resolution into effect and that no independent action of their own is at present called for.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the appreciation which many of us have for the noble Lord, Lord Caradon, who took the initiative in sponsoring this resolution? Also, could he inform us which of the Governments in the Middle East have endorsed this resolution, particularly in relation to the United Arab Republic and Israel?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am grateful for what my noble friend has said about Her Majesty's representative at the United Nations in New York. So far as the second part of his question is concerned, I should need to have notice of that. But if it is information that my noble friend would like to have before the House rises for the Recess I will get it for him and let him have it to-day.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I shall not press for it before the Recess, or at least at this Sitting. I shall write to my noble friend on the matter. May I ask him this further question? I appreciate that we must now largely leave this matter to Dr. Jarring, but might it not help in his negotiations if there could be a meeting of representatives of the four great Powers—the U.S.A., the Soviet Union, Britain and France—to try to press for the acceptance of this United Nations Security Council resolution?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I appreciate my noble friend's constructive aim in putting this forward, but I really believe that it would not help. We are in regular diplomatic contact with all the parties concerned in this problem. We are also in constant contact with the United Nations and with Dr. Jarring. Our appreciation at the moment is that this is a matter for quiet, patient diplomacy, and that for the moment we should leave it to Dr. Jarring.