HL Deb 29 November 1971 vol 326 cc1-4
LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the voting at the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 16 on the resolution which urged the United States to observe the embargo on imports of Rhodesian chrome, and how did the United Kingdom delegation vote.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)

My Lords, the voting in the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 16 on a resolution urging the Government of the United States of America to prevent the importation of Rhodesian chrome ore into the United States was 106 for the resolution, 2 against, and 13 abstentions.

The United Kingdom abstained from voting on the resolution.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, was not this an extraordinary decision by the British delegation? Had we not expressed dissatisfaction to the American Government at this step? Did it not prejudice our negotiations with Mr. Ian Smith? Will it not undermine the continuation of sanctions?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I think not. The reason why the United Kingdom abstained on this occasion was principally because we questioned the propriety of the General Assembly concerning itself in this way about the compliance with Security Council resolutions and, in particular, when the Security Council has itself set up machinery to supervise such resolutions.

BARONESS GAITSKELL

My Lords, would not the Minister agree that this cowardly abstention lays us open to an accusation of collusion between us and the United States as we were negotiating with Rhodesia at the time? Is it not true that we have always said that Rhodesia is our problem and that when other people do not hold to sanctions it is no argument against our holding to them?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, it is certainly no argument against our holding to them. The matter is one between the Government of the United States and the Security Council.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, is not Rhodesian chrome the best in the world? Was it not getting to America anyway via Russia? Is not this resolution rather a nonsense?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I am afraid I have no knowledge of the suggestions that my noble friend has made.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, regardless of the quality of Rhodesian chrome, may I ask the Minister what steps the Government are going to take if they consider the Assembly an inappropriate place to deal with this matter? Will they be pursuing this matter through the machinery of the Security Council?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, the position is that the United States Government have withheld any action on this matter until, I think. January 1. It is the type of situation which might come before the Sanctions Committee; but it would be a little hasty to take any further action on this matter until we see what happens in the new year.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that it is rather peculiar that this decision about the chrome and the visits of our representatives to Rhodesia should be taking place at about the same time?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I am not responsible for the actions of the United States Congress in these matters.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, could the noble Lord explain why he does not think that the American action will undermine the sanctions position?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I think I am right in saying that the Americans, like ourselves, have been among the staunchest upholders of sanctions over the past few years. I understand that when this matter was discussed in the United Nations the American delegate made it perfectly plain that if this importation was to go through it would be very much the exception to the American rule.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, without entering into the merits of this particular Question, does it not indicate that the resolutions of the United Nations—not only this one, but others—are often not worth the paper they are written on?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, that is a rather wider question.

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