asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement as regards Government policy on the question as to whether the Government situated in Peking should be recognised as the Government of China and as entitled to represent China in the United Nations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government of China.
10.
As the House is aware, we have, in the past, voted for a discussion of the question of the representation of China in the United Nations because, as I explained in the Dáil on 7th July, 1959, we believe that, if the United Nations is to be effective in preserving peace, its Assembly must be free to discuss any situation existing in the world which appears likely to endanger the peace. I also explained on the same occasion that, whereas there are in the United Nations many countries whose form of Government we would not like to see repeated here, countries of whose policies we strongly disapprove and the philosophy of whose rulers is abhorrent to our people, we feel nevertheless that, if the United Nations is to become what we would like it to be, namely, an effective shield for world peace, then clearly it must comprise countries of that character, and that we would like to see a real United Nations whose members are pledged to peace and who are willing to accept the verdict of the other member countries in relation to any acts of theirs which might imperil peace.
The matter covered by the Deputy's question is not on the agenda for the resumed Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which opened on 7th March, and I do not think therefore that a statement on the subject is called for at the present time. However, I may say that, if the question of seating Communist China in the United Nations comes before the Assembly, the Government, in deciding how to vote on this question, would have regard to the various considerations which arise, including such factors as the possibility of securing from that Government assurances to abide by the Charter and to accept an obligation to restore to the people of China fundamental human rights.
May we take it that it will be the policy of the Government in this regard also to consider very carefully any claims by the Communist Government at Peking to dominate the non-Communist Government of Formosa?
Yes, all relevant considerations will be taken into account in that eventuality.
The Government would have very careful regard to that.
We might find ourselves voting with the Russians again.
Is the Deputy going back to Warsaw?
Always remember that there were 880,000 executions there.
Questions Nos. 11 and 12 postponed.