§ 64. Mr. E. L. Mallalieuasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to arrive at an agreed interpretation of Article 2 (7) of the Charter of the United Nations having regard to the fact that the United Kingdom voted with Australia, Belgium, France and Portugal, against the view of the United States of America and 73 other countries, regretting that the Union of South Africa had not responded to appeals of the Assembly to reconsider its apartheid policy.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyI would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Ipswich (Mr. Foot) on 5th November.
Article 2 (7) of the United Nations Charter is specific and clear. It states that "nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorise the United Nations to intervene in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State". In Her Majesty's Government's view no steps are necesary to interpret the Article.
The resolution in question was supported by seventy member nations in the General Assembly on 30th October.