§ 8. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, what communications he has received from African and Asian Governments within the Commonwealth regarding mediation in the conflict between India and China.
§ Mr. TilneyAs the hon. Gentleman knows, it is not the practice to reveal confidental exchanges between Commonwealth Governments. But he will have read the open messages exchanged between President Nkrumah and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. These were published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 6th November.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be a meeting in Colombo, Ceylon, next week of Asian and African countries, including the Commonwealth countries, with a view to bringing about some mediation in this dispute, and that Indian representatives 638 will be at that meeting? Surely the Commonwealth Relations Office should be cognisant of this development, and should it not be assisting in some way to see whether this disastrous war can be brought to an end?
§ Mr. TilneyWe are as anxious as anyone to see the end of this disastrous conflict, but clearly the overriding consideraation is that India and China should seek to come to terms between themselves. It would be quite wrong for us to urge India to accept in the face of aggression a settlement which did less than justice to her cause.