HC Deb 08 December 1954 vol 535 cc938-40
11. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Government concerning the implications of the Treaty recently concluded between the United States of America and Nationalist China.

12. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date, and in what manner, he was informed of the general lines of the Treaty concluded between the Nationalist Government in Formosa and the United States of America; and what information he has received as to the contents of the Treaty.

15 and 18. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in the cause of peace, Her Majesty's Government will co-operate with the United States Government with a view to securing an undertaking from the Chinese Nationalist authorities in Formosa not to engage in provocative action against the Chinese mainland;

(2) whether he will make a statement on the representations which have been made by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to the Governments of the United States of America and China with a view to safeguarding peace in the Far East.

16. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication has recently been received from the United States Government on the Treaty between the United States of America and Nationalist China; and what representations have been made in reply.

19. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the Government of the United States of America about the recently completed agreement for the defence of Formosa.

20. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the information he has received from the United States Government regarding the security pact between the United States of America and the Formosa administration.

Sir Anthony Eden

Her Majesty's Government have been kept generally informed in recent weeks of the United States Government's intentions in this matter. Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the Treaty is in fact purely defensive, and that its object is to place relations between the United States Government and the Nationalist Chinese on such a basis as will result in a closer degree of consultation. They hope that in this way it will help towards the end which the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) has in mind.

No special representations have been made to the United States Government. Our views were made clear in the course of our consultations with them about the situation in the Far East.

Sir L. Plummer

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has seen Mr. Dulles's statement at his Press Conference on 1st December, in which he allies this Treaty with other Treaties negotiated between the United States and her Allies for the control of the Pacific; that is to say, Mr. Dulles has associated this with S.E.A.T.O.? In view of that statement, will the right hon. Gentleman make it quite clear that we are not associated with bilateral treaties negotiated and signed by the United States?

Sir A. Eden

The hon. Member is perfectly right in the last part of his Question. We are in no sense parties to this Treaty.

Mr. A. Henderson

In view of the incidents which have taken place off the China mainland, may I ask whether it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that both the United States Government and the Chinese Government in Peking should avoid taking any action which might disturb the present situation in the Straits of Formosa?

Sir A. Eden

Our policy towards the islands off the Chinese coast has been to urge upon all concerned the dangers of fighting and the importance of lowering tension and the avoidance of precipitate action.

Mr. Grimond

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has said it is his wish that the Treaty should lower tension in the area, can he tell us if there is in the Treaty any provision which gives the United States Government any right of consultation before any action is taken by the Formosa Government, or is there no provision that the Formosa Government shall not attack China or any other territory?

Sir A. Eden

That is an important issue. I tried to deal with it in my speech on Monday. The position can be simply summarised by saying that there will be, as a result of the agreement, an increase in the degree of consultation between the two parties concerned. I should have thought that to us, who are anxious for greater security in that part of the world, that is something which, on balance, we ought to welcome.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Foreign Secretary consider suggesting to the United States that it should now, in the light of President Eisenhower's most recent declaration, return to the policy of neutralising Formosa?

Sir A. Eden

I would rather not go beyond what I have said today. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, we must deal with the situation as it now exists. I think that the greatest contribution in that part of the world could now be made if those who have influence with the Chinese Government, wherever they may sit in this House, would persuade it to release the American airmen without any more delay.