§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have responded to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (17th December 1974) which invited Governments of the Member States to forward suggestions regarding a review of the United Nations Charter for consideration by the 30th Session of the General Assembly; and, if so, what is the nature of the suggestions made.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government will be responding to the invitation in that General Assembly resolution by forwarding to the Secretary-General certain observations concerning the proposed review of the Charter. The nature of these observations is at present under consideration.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it possible for Her Majesty's Government to give some indication of what is in their minds on this matter? Is it not a fact that the weakness of the United Nations is that it represents all nations, including the small and the weak, in contrast with realistic power in the world? Could consideration be given to the various proposals, including the allocation of votes to the General Assembly, the 1183 limitation of Security Council votes, to the question of enforcement, the creation of peace-keeping forces and of a permanent organisation for dealing with natural disasters, together with the expansion of UNESCO in order that it may be capable of co-ordination and development in the economic sphere? Would Her Majesty's Government look into all these issues?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we are looking into these issues and indeed have been doing so for some time. As I said, we are now considering the observations we shall make to the Secretary-General on precisely this kind of point.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy Lords, would the Government agree that any revision of the United Nations' Charter has to be agreed by all the five permanent members of the Security Council? Further, in those circumstances, is there much chance of getting agreement between these countries at the present time on any amendment?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the point is most apposite. Not only must the permanent members agree but two-thirds of the general membership must also agree before any change in the Charter can be effected.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, what my noble friend was asking in his Question was whether Her Majesty's Government would reveal their hand before entering into these forms of procedure. Would my noble friend not agree that no good governor shows his hand before he is prepared for what he has to do?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am bound to say that I entirely agree,
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, would my noble friend be on his guard against introducing any element of racial discrimination into this question whereby the black nations would be second-class nations and the white nations first-class ones?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, indeed, my Lords. One of the greatest enemies of this attempt to set up an international organisation which may become in due course an international authority is that nationalistic, racial and ideological special pleading constantly imperils it.