HC Deb 05 May 1964 vol 694 cc150-1W
Mr. A. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the attack by the Greek Cypriots on the Turkish Cypriots, he will consider withdrawing British troops from the United Nations force in Cyprus at the end of the three months tour, unless the Secretary-General of the United Nations alters his operational instructions so that the United Nations force can restore order.

Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the United Nations Secretary-General that Her Majesty's Government welcome the new instructions to the United Nations force in Cyprus with a view to preventing violence and bloodshed, and that the British contingent will co-operate in any necessary action to implement them effectively.

Mr. P. Thomas

We have made it clear to the Secretary-General that we are greatly disturbed at the continuance of intercommunal conflict in Cyprus. On April 29th, the Secretary-General issued a report to the Security Council on the operations of the United Nations force. In this he put forward a programme of action for the force designed to enable it to achieve the tasks laid down by the Security Council. We welcome this move towards making the United Nations force more effective, and remain ready to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General to this end.

Our purpose is to help the United Nations achieve the task laid down in the Security Council resolution. I do not think it would be helpful for me to speculate about the possibility of withdrawing British troops from the United Nations force.