HC Deb 28 July 1952 vol 504 cc1066-7
7. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official information he has received from the Indian Government as to the progress of the talks in Peking between representatives of the Indian and Chinese Governments regarding the deadlock in the truce talks in Korea.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Her Majesty's Government have been in close touch with the Government of India with regard to the Korean armistice negotiations. I cannot, of course, divulge the substance of these discussions.

Mr. Brockway

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman seen the statements made by the Indian Ambassador in Peking and more particularly of the Prime Minister of India last Thursday, when he said: We will be very happy to use our friendly contact with the Governments concerned in the furtherance of the settlement"? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman respond to the suggestion by Mr. Nehru that he should act in that capacity?

Mr. Lloyd

For a long time before those statements were made we had been making every possible use of the good offices of the Indian Government in this matter.

Mr. J. Hudson

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman taken any step recently to let Mr. Nehru know that his efforts, particularly to get a settlement on the prisoner of war question, would receive support from this Government?

Mr. Lloyd

I said that I would not divulge the substance of these discussions because they are confidential. I am quite certain, though, that the Prime Minister of India would have no objection to me saying that the answer for which the hon. Gentleman asks has repeatedly been given to Mr. Nehru.