§ 47. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether he will now propose to the President of the United States of America that British representatives should be included in the truce talks at Panmunjom and that political, as well as military, representatives of both Britain and the United States of America should be present.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 4th May to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick), and others.
§ Mr. WyattIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a growing uneasiness in this country that the chance of getting a truce in Korea may be lost by the fact that on both sides there are soldiers dealing with these matters, which are highly political, in a very inflexible way? While not wishing to criticise the Americans, would it not be a great advantage to have a British soldier present, or a British civilian and some other civilians there, too, so that everybody in the free world may know that if these truce talks break down—and General Harrison has already started saying that they have-everything possible has been done to show that we did try to get a solution?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think I wish to add at all to the answer I have given.
§ Mr. AttleeMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that there is a considerable body of experienced opinion at the United Nations and elsewhere which thinks that the attachment of some political advisers to the military in these negotiations might be advantageous, and whether it would not 379 be worth while discussing it with our American friends?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that is certainly a point which must be borne in mind on both sides of the ocean.
§ Mr. ShinwellMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in view of the reports now emerging on what is happening in Korea, he is really satisfied with the way the talks are going?
§ The Prime MinisterWell, Sir, hope springs eternal in the human breast.
§ Mr. ShinwellBut surely the right hon. Gentleman would agree, in view of what has just arisen in Korea, and the prospects having been somewhat dimmed, that it is desirable that the United Kingdom Government should take some action in the matter?
§ The Prime MinisterI can only assure the House that this matter is receiving most earnest attention. Really we all want the same thing, namely, a settlement of the prisoners' question without the dishonour of sending back men who would rather die than be repatriated. That is the evidence on which we are acting. Almost every alternative has been suggested, but there are some further alternatives that are now being considered as to the countries which should act. Then there is the difficulty as to whether a country which would be willing to act would be willing to receive the prisoners in bulk, and so on. I have certainly not abandoned hope that this must be settled and, if it were settled, it would, I hope, lead on to the winding up of the trouble.
§ Mr. WyattHas the Prime Minister seen, in regard to the actual conduct of the talks, a remarkable despatch in the "Manchester Guardian" today, in which it is said quite clearly that unless some diplomats take part in the actual conduct of the truce talks, they are bound to collapse within the next few weeks?
§ The Prime MinisterWas the hon. Gentleman the author of the despatch?