§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if Her Majesty's Government supported the application of the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation; if Her Majesty's Government will support an application by the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation on a future occasion; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the main reasons why Her Majesty's Government and other Governments refused to admit the German Democratic Republic into the World Health Organisation, in view of the contribution which the German Democratic Republic medical research and technology can make to strengthening the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GodberHer Majesty's Government have not supported and have no plans at present to support the application by the German Democratic Republic to join the World Health Organisation.
That international status of the German Democratic Republic has for long been in dispute. The question of German Democratic Republic participation in the World Health Organisation is, therefore, a political issue which, we believe, should not be dealt with in a technical body such as the World Health Organisation but in an appropriate political organ of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly.