§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 why their representative abstained from voting in the United Nations Security Council for the retention of sanctions against the illegal régime in Rhodesia.]
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, the United Kingdom abstained because we consider United Nations resolutions on Rhodesia to be unnecessary and unhelpful pending the publication of the report of the Pearce Commission.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not the case that the United Nations are involved in mandatory sanctions upon the illegal Government in Southern Rhodesia, and in view of the fact that it is now clear that an overwhelming majority of the African population—the majority in Rhodesia—are rejecting the settlement, is it not unfortunate that the impression should be given that the British Government are not clear about the maintenance of sanctions?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I do not think that is so. This resolution, as it appeared at the Council, imposed no new directives on the United Nations or on the members of the United Nations regarding sanctions, and it was for this reason that we abstained from voting on it.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that this consistent hanging back and lack of enthusiasm for their own policy of implementing sanctions is extremely destructive to those people who work for the United Nations and for the rule of international law?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I do not think I would accept that. Our delegate at the United Nations made it perfectly plain why we abstained. I have tried to make it plain on this occasion, and I hope the House will accept that.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that we long for some positive action on the part of Her Majesty's Government instead of always this equivocation when it comes to implementing their own views?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think that positive action on behalf of Her Majesty's Government must surely await the results of the Pearce Commission.