HC Deb 22 December 1965 vol 722 cc479-81W
Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the United Kingdom voted in the Fourth Committee of the United Nations on the resolutions, adopted by large majorities, on Gibraltar, small territories, and South-West Africa, respectively; and what was the explanation of vote in each case.

Mr. George Thomson

Her Majesty's Government voted for the resolution on Gibraltar in the Fourth Committee. In explanation it was made clear that this vote had been cast to reaffirm our willingness to entertain proposals by Spain for conversations as soon as the situation on the frontier between Gibraltar and Spain returned to normal, subject to the reservations made by our delegate immediately after the adoption of the consensus by the Committee of 24 on 16th October, 1964.

We voted against the Fourth Committee resolution on smaller colonial territories. In explanation of vote we stated that the paragraphs referring to the military bases were unacceptable.

We abstained on the Fourth Committee resolution on South-West Africa. Our abstention was explained on a number of grounds, the principal of which were that the question was still sub judice and that the situation in South-West Africa did not constitute a threat to international peace and security.

Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the United Kingdom abstained in the vote on the resolution adopted by the Special Political Committee of the United Nations, with 78 States in favour, on racial policies in South Africa; and what was the explanation of the vote.

Mr. George Thomson

The British delegate at the United Nations abstained on this resolution because it contained certain paragraphs which Her Majesty's Government could not accept. On separate votes the British delegate voted against paragraphs 1, 6, 7 and 10 of the resolution. No explanation of vote was made in the Committee. When the resolution was voted in plenary Lord Caradon stated that the delegation's abstention on the vote on the resolution as a whole, especially when it contained language in certain paragraphs which the delegation had found it necessary to vote against, did not create a precedent for any future debate on this subject in the Security Council.

Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the United Kingdom voted on the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 8th December on steps towards the creation of a capital development fund; and what was the explanation of the vote.

Mr. George Thomson

The United Kingdom voted against this resolution. In an explanation of vote in Committee the British Representative explained that the United Kingdom believes in the extension of capital assistance to the developing countries, but considers that this should be done through existing United Nations organs, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association.

Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the reason for the United Kingdom voting in a minority of two with Portugal in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on 8th December against Article XIII (bis) of the measures to implement the draft Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was adopted by 83 votes.

Mr. George Thomson

The United Kingdom voted against this Article for two reasons. First, it is discriminatory in that it imposes on States with dependent territories a mandatory obligation to accept a petitions procedure relating to those territories, while the comparable provision for metropolitan territories is optional. Secondly the apparent effect of the article is, in respect of the dependent territories of states, to establish a procedure under a convention applicable whether or not those States have become parties to the Convention. Both those matters seemed to Her Majesty's Government to raise such strong points of principle in relation to international procedures that we would have felt it right to vote against the Article even in a minority of one. We supported the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as a whole which was adopted by the General Assembly by 105 votes to nil with one abstention (Mexico).