HC Deb 25 April 1955 vol 540 cc615-7
47. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding the situation in the Formosa area as it affects world peace.

49. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on his efforts to secure a cessation of hostilities in the Formosa area in view of the threat to world peace.

Mr. H. Macmillan

As the House knows, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has sought continually for means whereby this difficult problem might be settled by negotiation rather than by force. This has been the prime purpose of all his efforts during recent weeks and was fully set out in a statement to this House on 8th March. This remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I have now seen reports of a statement by Mr. Chou En-lai, which suggests a readiness to enter into negotiation. Her Majesty's Government welcome any genuine effort to find a peaceful solution to the Formosa question. There are, of course, a number of difficulties to be overcome in any such negotiation, including the question of how the parties most directly concerned are to be brought together. Her Majesty's Government will continue to use all their influence to bring about a cease-fire and to promote an atmosphere within which a peaceful settlement could be approached.

Mr. Donnelly

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that an essential first step is to get clarification, through our representative in Peking, of what Mr. Chou En-lai's offer means? Will he give an undertaking that this will be done?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, Sir; I will certainly consider that. That is a very useful suggestion.

Mr. A. Henderson

Would the Foreign Secretary agree to urge upon the United States Government the vital importance of entering into this conference, and will he also at the same time urge upon the Chinese Government the importance of their making their contribution to the holding of the conference by agreeing to release the American prisoners?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, Sir, all those matters are relevant. Of course, we have not quite got to the stage of a conference yet. What we must do is to get everybody's state of mind favourable to negotiation rather than to force.

Mr. Henderson

I asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would agree to urge upon the United States Government the importance of their agreeing to enter into this conference.

Mr. Macmillan

All these matters will be considered and we are in continual touch with them. What we have tried to do is to carry on the policy of bringing all the parties together for negotiation.

Mr. Shinwell

Has the Foreign Secretary also seen reports of conditions stipulated by the State Department of the United States, among which is the stipulation that Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Government should be brought into the discussions? Does he not agree that that condition might retard the possibility of a solution? What is the opinion of Her Majesty's Government on that matter?

Mr. Macmillan

I saw a number of statements, including a second statement by Mr. Chou En-lai and the statement issued by the State Department. All those show the difficulties which lie in our path and I think that it would best serve our purpose if I left the matter at this stage, thanking the right hon. Gentlemen for the suggestions they have made.

Mr. Shinwell

But if there is in this matter the possibility of a solution, which everybody in the House desires, presumably on both sides, would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that if in the opinion of the majority of nations throughout the world Chiang Kai-shek is regarded as discredited, it would be a pity if that stood in the way of a solution?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, Sir; but I do not see how a solution can be brought about without all the parties concerned having some part in it and their interests taken care of.