HC Deb 17 November 1952 vol 507 cc1392-4
43. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken to place officially before the United Nations his proposal that they should establish a small commission to investigate the presence of Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma.

Mr. Nutting

None, Sir. Her Majesty's Government consider that such action would be for the Government of Burma to take.

Mr. Henderson

Is the Minister aware of the statements that have appeared in the United States Press to the effect that further Chinese Nationalist forces have entered Burma from Siam, and is it not farcical that this potentially dangerous situation should arise as a result of action taken by a Government authority—the Chinese Nationalist Government—which retains a seat on the Security Council?

Mr. Nutting

I am aware of certain newspaper reports to this effect, which have not so far been confirmed, but as the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows the Government of Burma have specifically said that they do not wish this matter to be raised in the United Nations. So far as I am aware, their view in that matter has not changed.

Mr. Manuel

Well, change it.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Since, for a year, there has been real danger in this situation, cannot the Minister now ensure that we ask Chiang Kai-shek to give orders for these troops to come away?

Mr. Nutting

We have, of course, no means of representing our view to General Chiang Kai-shek, because we have no diplomatic representative in Formosa—[An HON. MEMBER: "Ask the United States."]—but the Chinese Nationalist delegate, at the last session of the United Nations General Assembly, denied that these troops were under the control of Chinese Nationalist forces in Formosa. I do not think, therefore, that any injunction or representations from us to the Formosan Government, even if we could make them, would be to very much avail.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the fact that we are in diplomatic relations with the Government of Siam, could not the hon. Gentleman ask that Government whether there is any truth in the suggestion that these forces have come into Burma from that country?

Mr. Nutting

I will certainly consider that.

Mr. Beswick

Is the Minister certain that we have no representative in Formosa? Was he not explaining last week that there was a precedent in our having a representative there?

Mr. Nutting

I explained at great length last week that we have a representative in Formosa of a consular character but not a diplomatic representative.