HC Deb 28 April 1955 vol 540 cc1066-7
47. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister what further steps he is taking to improve Sino-British relations following the recent official declaration of the Prime Minister of China.

The Prime Minister

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary informed the House yesterday, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has been instructed to seek clarification of that part of Mr. Chou En-lai's statement which related to the possibility of negotiations with the United States on the Formosa situation. Mr. Chou En-lai is also reported to have referred to the possibility of the application between China and the United Kingdom of the so-called Five Principles. It has been the constant policy of Her Majesty's Government to work towards an improvement and strengthening of relations with the Government of China.

British foreign policy is based on the United Nations Charter. The Five Principles seem to be generally consistent with the Charter and we already subscribe to them.

Mr. Rankin

When the Prime Minister is seeking to bring about two-Power talks between America and China, why does he oppose them in the case of Britain and Russia?

The Prune Minister

I was not proposing two-Power talks. It would not be for me to do it. It would be for the United States of America and China to discuss that between themselves. Everyone knows that we shall do all we can to promote good results. In this connection I am a little reminded of Mr. Chou En-lai's recent excellent quotation "Better seeing once than hearing 100 times."