§ 30. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to recommend that an independent commission, with Communist observers, should interview without delay all prisoners of war who have expressed their desire not to be repatriated.
§ Mr. EdenAs I stated on 7th May, the United Nations Command have already offered a further screening, after an armistice, by a suitable international body or joint, national Red Cross teams, with observers from both sides. Her Majesty's Government regard that as a fair offer, which the Communists could accept with confidence. Her Majesty's Government are in close touch with the United States Government on this question.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the statement which was published yesterday by the Commander-in-chief of the North Korean Forces in which he stated that the only obstacle to an armistice was the question of repatriation, and as the right hon. Gentleman has again stated that, in principle, the proposed re-screening is accepted, would he not agree that it is vitally important that the question as to whether the re-screening should take place before or after the armistice should not be allowed to prejudice the conclusion of the armistice agreement?
§ Mr. EdenI am obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman. I think the North Korean commander's reference was to the general question of the exchange of prisoners and not only to the screening. Personally, I would agree with him that if the only issue were whether the re-screening should take place before or after an armistice I do not consider that it should be allowed to stand in the way of an armistice, provided, of course, that there was acceptance by both sides in advance of the results of the re-screening.