§ 3.11 p.m.
§ Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Under what circumstances British forces in the Gulf would be placed under the orders of a commanding officer answerable to the United Nations and what is the present position.
775§ Lord ReayMy Lords, the multinational force deployed in the Gulf is not a United Nations force. The question of United Nations command does not arise, therefore. British and other forces have been deployed at the request of Saudi Arabia and other countries in accordance with the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The British forces are under ultimate UK command.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his explicit Answer, which clarifies the present position that, although the forces are deployed under an article of the United Nations Charter, there is no United Nations command in the Gulf. Having regard to the danger of the present forces being regarded as wholly Western in command, have the Government considered that it might be better to examine the possibility of an ultimate United Nations command?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, we believe that effective arrangements have already been put in place. Forces are present in the Gulf in substantial numbers in support of Security Council resolutions and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. We do not believe that such a proposal would necessarily bring an improvement. The important point is to bring enough pressure on Saddam Hussein to ensure that he complies fully with United Nations resolutions.
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the British forces in the Gulf are under the command of a singularly able and distinguished officer, General de la Billière, in whom those concerned have the greatest confidence?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his remarks, which I am sure many noble Lords share.
§ Lord Williams of ElvelMy Lords, is the Minister aware that we have been reading in the press that there have been substantial moves towards drafting a Security Council resolution which would authorise the use of force in the Gulf? What progress has been made on that resolution? We understand from a French spokesman that they are getting down to drafting the resolution. Is part of that resolution concerned with putting all the forces in the Gulf under United Nations command?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, I cannot say whether there will be a further United Nations resolution. Nothing has yet been formally proposed. The wording of any resolution must of course be acceptable to all 15 members of the Security Council, but we would be happy to see a new Security Council resolution which would increase pressure on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.
§ Viscount Montgomery of AlameinMy Lords, does my noble friend agree that, in the unfortunate event of hostilities breaking out, the successful outcome will depend very much on having one commander-in-chief of all forces, whomsoever he shall be?
§ Lord BridgesMy Lords, will the Minister reconsider the information that he just gave the House that the resolution would have to meet with the approval of all members of the Security Council? Does he not mean that it would have to be approved by the Security Council?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, the noble Lord is highly experienced in these matters, and I accept his correction if that is necessary. We cannot be certain that there will be such a resolution. There is considerably further to go before we shall know whether there is to be one.
§ Lord Williams of ElvelMy Lords, has not the Soviet Union been pressing for a United Nations single command in this enterprise? Is it a condition of Soviet support for the proposed Security Council resolution that such a command structure should be put in place?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, that I cannot say. The Soviet Union has shown itself to be in support of the full implementation of all Security Council resolutions which seek to secure the withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait. We have no reason to suppose that the Soviet Union would not support a resolution permitting the use of force.
§ Lord MayhewMy Lords, what are our commitments in the interim? Will the Minister assure us that the United States will not take military action against the British Government's advice?
§ Lord ReayMy Lords, the important point is that in our view Article 51 of the United Nations Charter provides legal authority for the use of force in response to the armed attack on Kuwait. However, we shall continue to play our full part in the ongoing Security Council discussions on how to increase pressure on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.