HL Deb 07 February 1968 vol 288 cc1127-8

2.20 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will propose to the Government of the U.S.A. the offer of a cease-fire in Vietnam with a view to initiating negotiations for a peaceful settlement.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, my right honour- able friend the Prime Minister is flying to-day to Washington where he will be discussing the war with President Johnson. I cannot forecast the outcome, but I would remind noble Lords that a cease-fire and negotiations need the agreement of both sides.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I first welcome my noble friend on his return from his negotiations in Europe? And may I ask him whether recent events have not shown that the approach to peace in Vietnam and to a cease-fire must be adjusted; and that, instead of a proposal of a cessation of bombing in the North and an approach to Hanoi, it has now become clear that if there is to be a cease-fire the National Liberation Front must also be included in the discussions? Could my noble friend suggest to the Prime Minister, in the short time before he leaves for Washington, that the proposal should be made that an all-in conference, not only of America and Hanoi but also of the National Liberation Front, should be called in order that there will be an opportunity to discuss a cease-fire and a settlement?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I will, of course, bring what my noble friend has said to the attention of my right honourable friend. I do not think that the question of representation at talks is likely to be an insoluble problem. The American Government, as my noble friend will know, have made it clear that the question of representation of the National Liberation Front would not be an insuperable difficulty to them. Indeed, they recently sought to encourage contacts between Saigon and the National Liberation Front.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, are we to gather from my noble friend's Answer that the Cabinet has instructed the Prime Minister to ask the President of the United States to start negotiations with a view to peace?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, as I said in my earlier Answer, I cannot give details of what the Prime Minister will be discussing with President Johnson. He will be discussing the war, and he will naturally be discussing ways to bring it to an end; but I cannot, as I say, forecast the outcome of those talks.