HC Deb 05 April 1954 vol 526 cc31-2
47. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Prime Minister of France to London to discuss with him ways in which Britain can be of assistance in bringing the war in Indo-China to an end, and to obtain his view before the Geneva Conference on the suggestion made by Mr. Dulles that there should be greater military aid given by the free countries to the French in Indo-China.

The Prime Minister

Her Majesty's Government are in close touch with the Governments of both France and the United States about the problems of restoring peace in Indo-China. I do not think it necessary, therefore, to invite the French Prime Minister to London.

Mr. Wyatt

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that the first thing that has to be done by the French is to give complete independence to Viet-Nam, and that until that is done it would be the greatest folly for either American or British troops to be committed to ground fighting in Indo-China, where the conditions are quite different from those in Korea?

The Prime Minister

I think the hon. Gentleman might perhaps find methods of tendering this very valuable and important advice to the French Prime Minister without my troubling him to come over here.

Mr. S. Silverman

Would it not be in the interests of us all if the attention of the French Government were directed to the successful dealing with a similar problem in India by the British Labour Government, with its resultant advantages to the peace of the world? Would it not be of some advantage to the French Government to profit by the results of our dealing with a very similar problem?

58. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the extent of the military and economic aid so far given, and proposed, to the French in Indo-China by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Her Majesty's Government have always given most sympathetic consideration to any requests for the provision of material assistance to the French in Indo-China, but nearly all such requests have been addressed to the United States Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 13th July, 1953, to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson). I do not think that any detailed account of such assistance as we have been able to offer would be useful or appropriate.