HC Deb 26 October 1965 vol 718 c17W
35. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will seek to initiate, through the United Nations, an investigation into ways in which economic aid can be given to countries without thereby enabling their own resources to be used for the purchase of arms for aggression.

Mr. George Thomson

Economic aid is granted to promote the long-term development of a country's resources, but the control of those resources remains in the sovereign power of the individual country concerned. I do not believe it would be practicable for the United Nations to carry out the investigation proposed. In the event, however, of the United Nations deciding that a country was committing aggression, means are open to it under the Charter of dealing with the situation.