§ Q2. Mr. Stracheyasked the Prime Minister to what extent he has made the giving of military aid to India in connection with the Chinese attack on her conditional on India reaching a settlement with Pakistan on the subject of Kashmir.
§ The Prime MinisterIn his statement to the House on 3rd December, my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary said that he and Mr. Averell Harriman had told Mr. Nehru that, when it came to considering longer-term military aid to India, the British and American peoples 1307 would be unhappy to see that an appreciable part of the Indian Army was being deployed not for defence against China, but for defence against Pakistan; they had expressed to Mr. Nehru the strong hope that a new attempt would therefore be made to settle the differences between India and Pakistan. That is still our attitude. No decisions about long-term military aid have yet been taken. As the House knows, the Governments of India and Pakistan are engaged in a series of discussions about Kashmir and related problems. We greatly hope that they will reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides.
§ Mr. StracheyWould not the Prime Minister agree that, while we all regard a settlement of the Kashmir problem as highly desirable, it would be a great mistake, and probably entirely self-defeating, to link to this question the question of arms aid to India to repel the Chinese aggression? Would it not be much better to keep these things completely separate?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the House knows, we made an agreement on 27th November, particulars of which were given to the House on 29th November, for the immediate dispatch of arms. That agreement provided that the arms and military equipment that we provide are for the purpose of defending India against Chinese aggression. We are now discussing, together with the American Government, what long-term arrangements should be made.
Mr. H. WilsonWhile the whole House wants to see a settlement of the Kashmir dispute, does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that it is now a very long time—more than six months—since he and the late Hugh Gaitskell, with the full support of the House, made very warmhearted speeches here about what should be done to help India against Chinese aggression? It is six months since we proposed from this side of the House a substantial degree of lease-lend aid to India.
While we have had these immediate shipments, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable part of the Indian Air Force is grounded through lack of British-made spares? Would it not be possible for Her Majesty's Govern- 1308 ment immediately to see that these spares are made available and shipped to India to put the Indian Air Force in order? Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that we are not going to hold up our answer to India's request because of the Kashmir dispute?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have carried out the agreement most loyally and have sent a very large supply of immediate aid. We are now discussing longer-term aid. I will look into the particular questions the right hon. Gentleman has raised We are discussing aid over a much wider field, and that does require much consideration from both sides.
Miss LeeDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the psychological factors in delay and in the excessive pressures that senior members of his Administration are making no secret about having taken place, far from helping a settlement of the Kashmir dispute are now very much worsening the situation, and that, furthermore, the recent behaviour of the British Government's representatives has gone a long way to undo the wonderful relations established by the generous and immediate help we gave at the time of the Chinese aggression?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that that is an exaggeration. It is true that when one tries to help to settle a difficult problem one runs the risk of being attacked on both sides. Nevertheless, we have done what we can, although in the most tactful and diplomatic way.
Mr. H. WilsonCan the Prime Minister say whether the delay of more than five months since the signature of the agreement in November is due entirely to procurement difficulties or to checking India's request for aircraft and other things, or whether there is a political factor causing the delay?
§ The Prime MinisterEverything that was agreed to be done under the agreement has been or will be done.