Oral Answers to Questions — West New Guinea

– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 May 1963.

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Photo of Sir Arthur Irvine Sir Arthur Irvine , Liverpool Edge Hill 12:00, 29 May 1963

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken by the United Nations Authority now in West New Guinea in respect of Article 16 of the agreement between Indonesia and Holland which provides that the indigenous people may decide their own future by the end of 1969.

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Conway

There is no United Nations authority now in West New Guinea. The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority left the territory on 1st May after transferring the administration to Indonesia, and the United Nations' Representative envisaged in Article 16 of the Netherlands-Indonesian Agreement has not yet been appointed.

Photo of Sir Arthur Irvine Sir Arthur Irvine , Liverpool Edge Hill

Is not my hon. Friend aware of the alarm that has been caused throughout the Pacific and elsewhere by the fact that the six democratic parties and the people of West New Guinea have been handed over to a dictator without any semblance of a democratic process? Is not my hon. Friend further aware that this alarm is increased by the contrast between that and the United Nations Committee's recommendations that the Secretary of Papua should increase the rate of democratic advance before independence? In these circumstances, does not he feel that Her Majesty's Government should firmly place these facts before the United Nations?

Photo of Mr Peter Thomas Mr Peter Thomas , Conway

The position is that the United Nations has done everything that is required under the Netherlands-Indonesian Agreement.