§ 11.19 a.m.
§ 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 whether they support President Carter's proposals for the reform of the United Nations system, including
- (1) a Charter Review Conference;
- (2) a United Nations Peace-Keeping Reserve;
- (3) a United Nations High Commission for Human Rights; and
- (4) associated status for very small new states.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, the Government welcomes President Carter's report to Congress on reform and restructuring of the United Nations system. It contains some positive and imaginative proposals, which we are studying and on which we look forward to exchanging views with the American Government.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not time that there was some consideration of the structure of the United Nations, and of its ability to carry out its decisions? While I welcome the new nations, may I ask whether it is not a repudiation of its authority that an island of 110,000 should have the same vote as a territory of 100 million? In view of the developing situation, Lebanon now, Zambia, Namibia, Israel tomorrow, is it not important that there should be a reserve peace-keeping force ?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords as my noble friend knows, we are playing our part, and a prominent part, in this special committee on the Charter and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations Organisation. The American proposals are in line with our own thoughts in very many important respects. On the subject of small States, 534 we have traditionally supported the principle that all States, small and large, should have membership of the United Nations if they so wish. There are proposals put forward by the President to Congress, under the appropriate Act, which invite consideration for associate membership for small States—small in their resources—and also for such procedures or provisions as weighted voting. These clearly need very careful consideration, and as I have said we shall most certainly be responding to the American invitation, with other countries, to consider these proposals.
On the question of peace-keeping, my noble friend and the House will know that we have put forward through the Western draft on the programme of action for the United Nations special session on disarmament certain proposals to improve and strengthen a peacekeeping capacity. This was co-sponsored by the United States, and I have no doubt that the President's invitation to Congress to consider this among other matters, which are written in the report, will be counterparted by their continuing support for the United Kingdom initiative on peace-keeping in the special session.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the proposals that Her Majesty's Government have put forward are available and, if not, whether he would lay them in the Library of the House? And will he recall the last speech of the late Lord Attlee in favour of a United Nations peace-keeping force? Are the proposals which are now being put forward in line with that?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I see no reason why the three papers which have been put forward in connection with the special session, and indeed our own proposals, should not be made available. I think some of them may now be available, and I will look into this and see that there is the utmost availability.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, would not the Minister agree that these four issues are highly complicated, that they have been looked at for many years and to make out that they are simple and can be dealt with at a stroke is highly misleading, both to this House and to the world outside it?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSYes, indeed, my Lords. The report by the President to Congress is in accordance with provision by special enactment of Congress, and it is couched in suggestive and tentative form. It does not put forward definite proposals which would be regarded as being finalised United States' policy; but it is a valuable series of suggestions, mainly for consideration and study. In that sense we have responded, no doubt with other countries to which the United States has made available copies of this report, with a readiness to discuss, in the first instance with the United States Government and, secondly, with other like-minded countries, to see how far we can go on these important matters.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming what the Minister has said about representation of the smaller State, may I ask whether the Government will consider U Thant's proposal for group representation rather than the proposal made by President Carter for associate membership?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do not think that the President's report to Congress rules out any means of revitalising membership of the United Nations. Weighted voting, group association and selective membership in regard to various functions can all be considered. The report does not come down in the slightest in favour of any one more than another, still less does it rule out the consideration of any suggestion.