HC Deb 20 July 1953 vol 518 cc19-21
23. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has now received concerning the negotiations in Bangkok for the removal of Chinese Nationalist troops from Burmese territory.

27. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the four-Power Conference at Rangoon on the presence of Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma has now achieved agreement.

Mr. Nutting

I understand that the agreement mentioned in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply of 6th July has now been approved by all the Governments concerned, subject only to certain reservations which do not directly concern the main issue of the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist troops. Consultations with the local Chinese Nationalist commanders are continuing.

Mr. Wyatt

I cannot quite understand that involved answer. Does the hon. Member mean that arrangements are now being made to withdraw these Chinese Nationalist troops from Burma through Siam to Formosa, or does he not mean that?

Mr. Nutting

The answer means that the Governments concerned who are parties to this agreement have agreed in principle about the need for the evacuation of the Chinese Nationalist forces from Burma. Consultations about the precise timing and method of the commencement of the evacuation, how it will take place and through what countries, are now proceeding with the local commanders.

Mr. A. Henderson

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us what the difficulty has been? Is he aware of the statement published this morning by a Minister of the Chinese Nationalist Government in Formosa to the effect that they have been prepared to do anything possible to take these troops back? What has been the difficulty in getting them back?

Mr. Nutting

I understand that the difficulty results from the local Chinese commanders of these troops being somewhat out of touch with their Nationalist Government in Formosa. The Chinese Nationalist authorities in Formosa have been consistently helpful in trying to reach a settlement of this problem.

Mr. Noel-Baker

As it is four months since what the hon. Gentleman called the need for a withdrawal of these troops was agreed in the Assembly of the United Nations, and since it is many more months since it was established that Formosa is in control of these troops and in constant touch with them, cannot the hon. Gentleman hold out hope that the troops will soon be moved?

Mr. Nutting

I hope very much that these troops will soon be moved, and consultations to that end—as to the exact and precise working of the agreement now concluded between the Governments—are proceeding. We hope that they will proceed swiftly.

Mr. Wyatt

Does this mean that the Nationalist troops refuse to go, that nobody knows how to persuade them to go and that there is not enough force to be able to make them go? If that is the case, what do Her Majesty's Government propose to do about it?

Mr. Nutting

We are not parties to this agreement and we are not called upon to do anything. In plain language, what is now happening is that consultations are taking place with the Chinese local commanders as to the precise method and timing of getting these troops out of Burma.