HC Deb 06 December 1950 vol 482 cc328-9
2. Mr. Walter Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking, by means of the broadcasting stations in Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong, to make known to the Chinese people that the United Nations have no designs on any territory belonging to China.

Mr. Ernest Davies

The British Broadcasting Corporation's Far Eastern Service broadcasts regular reports of proceedings in the United Nations. This service can be heard direct in China and is relayed by the British Far Eastern broadcasting station at Singapore and by Radio Ceylon. I can assure the hon. Member that attention has been given in these programmes to coverage of recent statements made in this House and by British representatives at Lake Success reassuring the Chinese people regarding the intentions of the United Nations.

Mr. Fletcher

May I ask the hon. Gentleman two questions? First, what steps are being taken and what machinery exists to co-ordinate this with what the Americans and the French are saying? Second, will translated copies of these broadcasts be put into the Library for Members on all sides of the House who have shown great interest in this question to see?

Mr. Davies

There is considerable consultation between us and the United States over their broadcasting overseas. I will certainly look into the question of placing copies in the Library and, if it is possible, I will see it is done, if it is not already done.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

In what Chinese dialects are these broadcasts given?

Mr. Davies

They are done in native languages, one of which is Kou-Yu.

Mr. Nicholson

While appreciating the hon. Gentleman's affectionate approach, may I remind him that there are a good many Chinese dialects, the speakers of which do not understand each other?

Mr. Julian Amery

May I ask a question relating to the placing of copies of the transcripts of broadcasts in the Library? Will the hon. Gentleman also consider—I appreciate that this is a slightly different question—putting in the Library copies of the monitorings of the broadcasts from the Chinese radio, which contain many rather interesting indications of what the attitude of the Chinese Government may be?

Mr. Davies

I believe that the monitoring report of the B.B.C. is already available in the Library.

Forward to