§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom representative voted in favour of Resolutions 279 and 280 of the Security Council of the United Nations on 12th and 19th May, respectively, in view of the raids into Israel of insurgents which have been launched from Lebanese territory in recent weeks.
§ Mr. Foley:Before voting in favour of Security Council Resolution 279, which demanded the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces from Lebanese territory and was adopted unanimously, Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government supported an amendment, which was defeated, calling for the immediate cessation of all military operations in the area. Her Majesty's Government only voted in favour of Resolution 280 after sponsoring several amendments, which were accepted, intended to forestall the passage of a wholly unbalanced resolution which took account of the loss of life and armed attacks on one side of the dispute alone. The United Kingdom Permanent Representative made plain in his explanation of vote that Her Majesty's Government condemn all acts of violence and retaliation and that it was in this context that he voted for Resolution 280.