HC Deb 11 February 1953 vol 511 cc395-6
16. Mr. Follick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, seeing that the United States Government have withdrawn their Seventh Fleet from the Formosan channel, if he will propose to the Security Council of the United Nations the replacement of this American Fleet by a combined United Nations fleet made up of the nations who are now fighting in Korea, as a protection against the further extension of the war in that area.

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir.

Mr. Follick

Would it not be better that in all operations in which the United Nations are concerned it should be for the United Nations Command to take the decision and not for any particular nation, whichever nation that might be?

Mr. Nutting

I hardly think that we could expect it to smile on the United Nations if they were to be asked to send a fleet to protect the mainland of a country which the United Nations themselves have declared to be an aggressor against them?

Mr. Follick

Did we ask America to send a fleet at that time?

Mr. Younger

Will the hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that the Formosan operation is not one in which—to use the phrase of my hon. Friend—the United Nations are concerned?

Mr. Nutting

That matter was very fully debated last week, and I have nothing to add to the statements which were made on that occasion; but it is true that the United States declaration by President Truman for the neutralisation of Formosa was a unilateral act by the United States, equally as the deneutralisation policy lately announced by President Eisenhower was a unilateral act.

Mr. Younger

May I press the hon. Gentleman a little further as it is a simple answer that I am hoping to get. It is the case, is it not, that the Formosan operation is not one with which the United Nations are concerned?

Mr. Nutting

As such, the United Nations are not concerned at this moment with the protection of Formosa.