§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government abstained from the decision by the United Nations Human Rights Group to send a telegram to the Israeli Government, expressing concern at the deaths of Arab detainees in Israeli gaols which were attributable to the conditions of their imprisonment.
§ Dr. OwenWe abstained because, while we are naturally concerned at these reports, the proposed telegram prejudged the issue of the possible illtreatment of Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. The Federal Republic of Germany and Italy, the other members of the Nine represented on the Commission on Human Rights, also abstained.