HC Deb 02 July 1952 vol 503 cc410-1
31. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the International Red Cross organisation whether any reply has yet been received by them from the Chinese Government in Pekin to their offer made in March last to conduct an investigation into the charges of bacteriological warfare.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The International Committee of the Red Cross announced on 29th April that no reply had been received from the Chinese authorities to their message of 12th March. There has been no further development since that date.

Mr. Henderson

Is it not significant that, after having launched a world wide propaganda campaign alleging this monstrous crime against the Allied Forces in Korea, the Chinese Government have refused to allow impartial investigation, and that only yesterday the Soviet Government's representative at the Security Council announced that he was going to veto the proposal for independent Red Cross investigation?

Mr. Lloyd

I quite agree. I think both the actions to which the right hon. and learned Gentleman has referred are lamentable.