§ 3.12 p.m.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
625§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make on the situation in the Falkland Islands.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)My Lords, I repeated yesterday in your Lordships' House a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Government will continue to keep Parliament informed.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, in view of what the noble Lord has just said, I believe and hope, with the leave of the House, that we ought to leave it at that for the time being.
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord and agree with him.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware—
§ Lord Jenkins of Putney—that not all of us are content to leave it at that for the time being? Is the noble Lord aware that the United Nations Resolution 502, which the Government claim as their licence for action, calls upon both Britain and Argentina to refrain from the use or the threat of force—
§ Lord Jenkins of Putney—in the region of the Falkland Islands? Are not both the task force and the maritime exclusion zone in breach of that resolution?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, the sending of the British task force is fully covered by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. However, in saying that to the noble Lord, may I add that my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's journey to Washington and all the efforts of the British Government are designed to secure a peaceful settlement.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, may I ask the Minister, first in reference to Resolution 502, whether or not the first demand is the cessation of hostilities? In that situation, would it not be good to secure such a cessation so that a truce can be made while negotiations are taking place? Secondly, would the Government support the idea of a United Nations presence in the Falklands, with a peace-keeping force to replace the Argentine occupation?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, at the present time I do not think that it would be for the convenience of the House to pursue these matters.