HC Deb 07 February 1955 vol 536 cc1544-5
30. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British ships have suffered damage as a result of attacks made upon them by assailants known or suspected to have come from Formosa, the Pescadores, the islands of Quemoy, Matsu or the Tachens since 1st January, 1952.

32. Mr. Hale

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of attacks on British ships in the last 12 months to the most recent convenient date which have been made by the forces engaged in the Chinese civil war; and the number which, on investigation, have been found to be due to the forces of General Chiang Kai-shek, and those due to the forces of the Chinese Government.

34. Mr. Foot

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions in the past four years protests have been made to the authorities in Formosa about attacks on British ships.

Sir Anthony Eden

Full details of cases of interference were given to the House on 22nd November. Since that date, the only case has been that of the s.s. "Edendale." In addition, I have received reports of three cases of minor damage which have happened since 1952 as a result of Nationalist interference but the damage was apparently so slight that the owners have not put forward claims for compensation. As stated on 22nd November, protests have been made by H.M. Consul at Tamsui and by H.M. Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in all cases where it was evident that there was improper interference with British ships and responsibility for the interference could be established.

Sir L. Plummer

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of that reply and the number of incidents which have taken place, and in view of the tension in this part of the world, he would consider calling another Nyon Conference to protect our ships from these acts of piracy?

Sir A. Eden

This is not on all fours with the situation then. If the hon. Gentleman would like me to discuss the Nyon Agreement I will do so, but not at this moment. We have put in certain claims and some have been met and some not, and we shall continue to pursue our claims.

Mr. Foot

Can the right hon. Gentleman say in how many of these cases representations have also been made to the United States Government about the matter, particularly in view of his own legal interpretation of the situation in Formosa, which apparently means that the real authorities are not Chiang Kai-shek but the American authorities?

Sir A. Eden

I should want notice of that.

Mr. Dugdale

Will the Foreign Secretary give instructions, or say whether such have been given, that all British ships in the neighbourhood of Formosa should be clearly marked so as to reduce their chances of being attacked, as was done in the case of the Spanish Civil War?

Sir A. Eden

I understand that instructions in that sense have been issued, but I will make sure.