§ 65. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will take the initiative in raising at the twentieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1965 the need for a conference to consider amendments to the United Nations Charter, in the spirit of the 10 year period mentioned in Article 109(3), relating to amendments, and with a view to obtaining changes such as the expansion of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council and of peace-keeping arrangements to replace the abortive provisions of Articles 43 to 47.
§ Mr. George ThomsonHer Majesty's Government favour the holding of a review conference as soon as the international climate offers some prospect of success. In the meantime it is, of course, possible to amend the Charter by the provisions of Article 108, under which the General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1963 proposing amendments to the Charter to bring about the expansion of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. While the provisions of Articles 43 to 47 have never become fully operative, Her Majesty's Government hope that it may be possible in the future to secure agreement upon their implementation. They would not, therefore, wish to take any initiative designed to replace these Articles.