HC Deb 20 July 1953 vol 518 cc30-2
46. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement on the armistice negotiations at Panmunjom.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The House will be glad to hear that some progress has been made at Panmunjom since my last statement on the Korean armistice negotiations on 15th July.

At the meeting on 16th July the Communists asked for a recess, which was later extended at their request to two days. At the next meeting on 19th July they read a statement, which has been released for publication. This sets out their understanding of the very definite assurances given by the United Nations Command in reply to their questions at recent meetings and goes on to declare their readiness—here I quote the words used— to discuss with your side immediately the various preparations prior to the signing of the armistice agreement. Staff officers and liaison officers of the two sides are now meeting to discuss administrative details.

Meanwhile, the House will no doubt have seen and welcomed the statement on 17th July by the United States Secretary of State that President Rhee has given explicit assurance that he will not obstruct in any manner the implementation of the proposed armistice.

Mr. Henderson

Have the military safeguards, to which General Mark Clark referred, to ensure the observance of this armistice been taken? Could the right hon. Gentleman clarify the position with regard to the use of Indian troops under the Control Commission for the repatriation of prisoners of war, and the steps taken to ensure that they will be able to carry out their duties?

Mr. Butler

In reply to the latter part of the supplementary question, I have no reason to expect that that particular point will give rise to any serious difficulty. In reply to the first part, I think we had better just see how these things go over the next day or so, and then give a more explicit answer.

Mr. Donnelly

In view of the fact that if President Rhee does not observe his word the action to be taken must be quick, can we have an assurance that this matter has been gone into and that there are definite assurances that the truce will be observed or that action will be taken to ensure that it will be?

Mr. Butler

In relation to President Rhee, I have seen, and the House will have seen, the words in the broadcast of the American Secretary of State on 17th July, which I have already given to the House. We also have the statement of 15th July from Mr. Robertson in which he said that in his opinion we could proceed in good faith to sign an armistice. There is also the statement I gave the House on 15th July, summing up the position. In the circumstances, I think we had better go ahead and hope for the best.

Mr. Wyatt

While everybody is very glad that these assurances have been given, can the acting Prime Minister tell us what there is in the particular assurances which make them any more reliable than the previous assurance that President Rhee would not release North Korean prisoners of war?

Mr. Butler

That is a matter of opinion, but what we have now is an explicit assurance by President Syngman Rhee which the American Secretary of State thought sufficiently good to include in his broadcast.