HC Deb 15 February 1956 vol 548 cc2358-9
30. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government continue to recognise that the islands of Quemoy and Matsu are Chinese territory under the sovereignty of the Government of China.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4th February, 1955, to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell). That is still the position of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Zilliacus

Does that reply mean that the Government are in any doubt that Quemoy and Matsu are Chinese territory and always have been, that the Peking Government, therefore, have sovereignty over them, and, consequently, that any attempt by the United States to resist by force the reoccupation of these islands by the Chinese Government would constitute aggression against Chinese territorial integrity and violation of the United Nations Charter?

Mr. Lloyd

If the hon. Gentleman will look at what the Prime Minister said, he will see that our position is stated quite specifically, and I think it will be termed satisfactory even by the hon. Member.