§ Q10. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the British responsibilities as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, in his talks with President Kennedy he will discuss with him the pursuance of a joint policy in South Vietnam consistent with the provisions of the 1954 agreements and the prescriptions of the United Nations Charter.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United States and British Governments are already agreed on policies in South Vietnam consistent with the 1954 Agreement and the United Nations Charter.
§ Mr. RankinIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that by constituting South Vietnam as a base for harbouring and supplying to other parts of South-East Asia American troops and arms, the United States is breaking the provisions of the 1954 Act and that recently she has been adding to that by spraying crops, fruit and so on in order, ostensibly, to smoke out Communists but at the same time poisoning people? Does he not think that these things today are sufficiently serious to warrant him having a little talk with President Kennedy about them to see if they cannot be ironed out in the interests of peace?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the whole House knows our view on this. South Vietnamese are entitled to ask for foreign advice and assistance for ending insurgency originating and stimulated from abroad. At the same time, we have done everything possible, at Geneva with our allies and in other forms of negotiations, to try to keep this dangerous position under control.
§ Mr. RankinIf they are merely being encouraged from abroad, as is said, and 1655 not sometimes inspired by the United States, will the right hon. Gentleman say why a Buddhist priest, in a world protest, burned himself to death in public in protest against these happenings?
§ The Prime MinisterWe must consider the long history of this affair and the general view that we and our allies should do everything we can. We have had good negotiations with the Russian Government to try to prevent this from becoming a danger point in the world.