§ 12. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will enter into consultations with the United States Government and other Governments of the United Nations in order to agree the peace terms which, following an armistice in Korea, would form the basis of a final peace settlement in the Far East.
§ Mr. EdenHer Majesty's Government are in close and continuous consultation with the United States Government and other Governments on these matters. It is, however, the view of Her Majesty's Government that an armistice must be concluded in Korea before progress can be made in discussion of a wider settlement in the Far East.
§ Mr. HendersonWould not the Foreign Secretary agree that, while no statement should be made which appears to be attempting to buy off an aggressor, surely, as regards Her Majesty's Government and the other Governments associated with us in the campaign in Korea, it is highly desirable that a further attempt should be made to secure agreement now, before we go into the peace settlement which is bound to follow any armistice which might be arranged?
§ Mr. EdenWe thought, and the right hon. and learned Gentleman himself in an earlier incarnation thought, that it was necessary to get the armistice terms before we could usefully discuss the wider political settlement, and I think that that is the right position.
§ Mr. HendersonI think the right hon. Gentleman is not clear as to what I am suggesting. I am not suggesting that discussions should take place with Communist China, but that discussions should take place with the United States Government and the other Governments associated with us so that there may be agreement as to the line to be adopted when the time comes.
§ Mr. EdenI misunderstood the right hon. and learned Gentleman. Some informal discussions of that kind have taken place.