§ 7. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the statement issued by the Government of New Zealand on the question of the United States intervention in the Formosa dispute, if he will now issue a similar declaration.
§ Sir Anthony EdenI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the statement made by the Prime Minister of New Zealand in New York on 24th January. My statement to this House on 26th January was couched in similar terms. As the House will be aware, Her Majesty's Government gave full support to the New Zealand Government's subsequent initiative in the Security Council.
§ Mr. LewisWhile thanking the Foreign Secretary and appreciating the tone of 1529 his reply, may I ask if he is aware that the New Zealand Prime Minister did, in fact, state categorically that the New Zealand Government and people would not be parties to any dispute about or take part in any war in connection with Formosa? The Foreign Secretary was not quite so categorical. Can he now make a similar statement?
§ Sir A. EdenThe quotation I have of the speech by the New Zealand Prime Minister and the statement which I made are, I think, almost exactly the same. If the hon. Gentleman likes to compare them, I shall be quite ready to do so with him.