HC Deb 17 July 1950 vol 477 cc1855-6
56. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue instructions to British military forces in the Far East to give all possible support to the United States of America in their determination to ensure that the future of Formosa is not arbitrarily settled by force.

Mr. Ernest Davies

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 10th July.

Major Beamish

Is the Under-Secretary aware that that reply caused great consternation in the United States? May I ask whether it is the view of His Majesty's Government that Formosa is, in international law, part of Japanese territory—

Mr. Wyatt

On a point of order. As this Question was answered last Monday, is it in order for it to appear again on the Order Paper today?

Mr. Speaker

I have no idea whether it was answered on Monday, but if it had been answered it would still have been on the Order Paper today.

Major Beamish

As I was saying, is it the Government's view that Formosa is, in international law, part of Japanese territory, and that its future must, therefore, depend on a peace treaty with Japan?

Mr. Davies

That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Is my hon. Friend aware that, whatever consternation may be caused anywhere else in the world, it would cause the greatest consternation in this country if His Majesty's Forces were to be used in any other way than in accordance with the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations?

Mr. Davies

That was the purport of the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston last Monday.