United Kingdom Delegate (Instructions)

Oral Answers to Questions — United Nations – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 November 1956.

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Photo of Mr Arthur Lewis Mr Arthur Lewis , West Ham North 12:00, 12 November 1956

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the text of the instruction sent to the British delegate to the United Nations, to the general effect that if the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution branding Britain, France and Israel as aggressors. Britain would withdraw from the United Nations; and whether is was on his instruction that the British delegate let this be known to the delegates of the United Nations General Assembly, privately, before the Assembly's public debate.

Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury

There was no call to send any such instructions and none were sent. The United Kingdom delegate was, however, within his discretion in letting it be known privately that the passage of a resolution condemning the United Kingdom as an aggressor might lead to very serious consequences over our relationship with the United Nations, particularly as Her Majesty's Government considered the intervention undertaken by themselves and France after the Israeli attack on Egypt as being emergency action necessary to preserve peace and security.

Photo of Mr Arthur Lewis Mr Arthur Lewis , West Ham North

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the statement made by Mr. Randolph Churchill that, in fact, such an instruction was sent, and that Sir Pierson Dixon was told to let it be known that if such action were taken Britain would walk out of the United Nations? Can we have a categorical assurance that not only was no such instruction sent, but that no instruction even tending towards that was sent, by Her Majesty's Government to Sir Pierson Dixon?

Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury

I am surprised and interested to find the hon. Member in agreement with Mr. Randolph Churchill on this point. The Answer I have given is quite clear. I hope the hon. Member will study it, and if then he feels he wishes to ask another Question he can, of course, do so.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Younger Mr Kenneth Younger , Grimsby

Are we to understand from the hon. Gentleman that it is his view that, in the absence of instructions—I understood him to say that no such instructions were sent—it was within the discretion of our permanent representative there to threaten that this country would leave the United Nations if a certain resolution was passed? Is that really his view?

Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury

If the right hon. Gentleman will look at my Answer, he will see that I said that he let "it be known privately that the passage of a resolution condemning the United Kingdom as an aggressor might lead to very serious consequences over our relationship with the United Nations". Obviously, this would have to be referred to the Government, and the Government would have to decide, in the circumstances, if such action were taken.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Younger Mr Kenneth Younger , Grimsby

Is the Minister aware that the Question was put to him in more precise terms than was the Answer he gave? Is he telling us that our permanent representative did, in fact, make this particular threat, or was it only a threat in very general terms to leave the United Nations?

Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury

As I have said, he was within his discretion "in letting it be known privately that the passage of a resolution condemning the United Kingdom as an aggressor might lead to very serious consequences."

Photo of Mr James Griffiths Mr James Griffiths , Llanelli

Will the Joint Under-Secretary take us further into his confidence and tell us what Her Majesty's Government had in mind in using the term "serious consequences"?

Photo of Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker Sir Douglas Dodds-Parker , Banbury

No, because if this question arose—it is hypothetical at the moment—it would be referred to the Government, which would have to decide in the circumstances of the moment.