SOUTH KOREA (POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS) (Hansard, 16 June 1952)

§ 45. Mr. Wyatt
asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to the Minister of Defence as to the attitude he should adopt in his discussions with the United Nations' command on the announcement made by President Syngman Rhee that he is considering the withdrawal of South Korean troops from the front.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)
It has been officially stated on behalf of the South Korean Government that President Syngman Rhee made no such announcement. Press comments on the subject are therefore purely speculative. The Minister of Defence and the Minister of State are, of course, currently informed of Her Majesty's Government's views on the situation and will, I have no doubt, discuss with the United Nations Command the political crisis in South Korea in all its relevant aspects.

§ Mr. Wyatt
Is it not a fact that President Rhee is doing all he can to prevent the United Nations from ensuring the democratic working of the constitution of South Korea and that we must now call his bluff? Ought not the Government therefore to take the initiative in seeing that, at any rate during the period of the election of the National Assembly, he is put out of the way so that Members of Parliament arrested or forced to flee should be allowed to return to the Assembly and to carry out the election in a constitutional manner free from duress from President Syngman Rhee?

§ The Prime Minister
I think the OFFICIAL REPORT will enable the hon. Member's solution to this question to be placed on record and given full publicity.

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes
As Mr. Syngman Rhee told the Minister of Defence that he is just as much a democrat as the Prime Minister of Britain, could the Prime Minister tell us if Mr. Syngman Rhee has made any representations for free democratic elections in Britain.

§ The Prime Minister
The problem is complicated enough as it is.

§ Sir H. Williams
Will my right hon. Friend state what responsibility he has for the Government of South Korea?

§ The Prime Minister
I think that as we went in wholeheartedly and unitedly with the Americans under the authority of the United Nations and undoubtedly saved Mr. Syngman Rhee and his Government from destruction, we have a certain right.

§ Mr. Shinwell
In any event, will the Prime Minister not agree that as the Minister of State has had discussions with President Syngman Rhee and is no 776 doubt reporting to the Government, this House will be shortly informed of what has occurred?

§ The Prime Minister
When the Minister of Defence comes back with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, statements will have to be made to Parliament, and it seems to me very probable that requests will be made for opportunities of debate, and the great facilities which the Opposition have in regard to Supply Days may be invoked as well. At any rate, we should certainly wish to lay the whole position frankly before the House.

§ Mr. Shinwell
That was the point I wished to make. Do I understand from the Prime Minister that, entirely apart from requests made either on Supply or any other day, the Government themselves will wish to make a statement to the House on the results of the conversations that the Minister of Defence has had?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes. When Lord Alexander comes back I am sure we shall want to hear everything he has to tell us in the Government; and also a statement on this, I think, valuable mission of his must certainly be an important feature in our discussions here.