§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy 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 on what grounds directions were given to the United Kingdom representative to the United Nations to support a resolution critical of the Republic of South Africa regarding the internal policy of territory administered by the Republic when their trade is so important to the United Kingdom.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDNone, my Lords. If, as I understand it, the noble Lord is referring to Security Council resolution 269 of the 12th August this year, Her Majesty's Government did not support, but abstained on, that resolution.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether it is to be understood that Her Majesty's Government's representative did not oppose the resolution; and if so, would it not appear that it was imprudent to favour a resolution of this kind which recommends something which is completely incapable of achievement? Further, if protests are necessary, should not higher priority be given to protests against the brutal attack on Czechoslovakia by Russia?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we abstained and stated clearly why we abstained; and it was principally because the resolution was clearly designed to pave the way for comprehensive mandatory economic sanctions against South Africa under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. We considered such sanctions to be neither practical nor likely to lead to a solution of this problem.