HL Deb 17 April 1951 vol 171 cc303-4

2.41 p.m.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what grounds a visa has been refused to the leader of an unofficial Chinese delegation now in Prague hoping for admission to this country; and whether steps could be taken to invite a representative body of Chinese to visit this country in order to promote understanding between the British and Chinese peoples.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, applications were received for visas to enable four Chinese delegates and one interpreter to attend a meeting organised by the Britain-China Friendship Association on April 8. The grant of visas to three of the delegates and the interpreter was authorised, but it was not considered to be in the public interest for Mr. Lee Yi-Mang, the leader of the delegation, to come to this country for this purpose. As regards the second part of the Question, His Majesty's Government would at all times welcome the free exchange of news and views between this country and China and, similarly, a visit to this country by a representative body of Chinese. It is, however, doubtful whether, pending the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Chinese Government would authorise the acceptance by such a representative body of an official invitation to visit the United Kingdom. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to take steps to extend any such invitation.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

Is there any evidence that the Chinese Government are opposed to the visit of this particular delegation to this country?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

So far as I know, there is no opposition to the visit of this particular delegation, with which I have previously dealt. But with regard to another delegation, a wider delegation such as is contemplated, the opinion we have here is that probably the Chinese Government would not be willing to authorise acceptance of an invitation.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

What importance can be attached to the offer to receive a delegation if the leader of such a delegation is to be excluded without any reason given?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

We must consider in each case the credentials of the various peoples who are coming, and if, as we think, we have good reasons for declining to allow anybody to come, it is questionable whether it is wise to discuss it in public. I will tell the noble Lord privately what our reasons are, but I think he will agree with me, if he agrees that there must be a discretion, that it is not always right to disclose in public the reasons which have led us to exercise our discretion in a particular way.