§ Q7. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to support any expansion of the war in South Vietnam into North Vietnam.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government's attitude to the situation in South Vietnam was explained in the Foreign Affairs debate last week. The assurance asked for by my hon. Friend relates to an entirely hypothetical situation.
§ Mr. ZilliacusDoes my right hon. Friend recall that on 5th March of this year he urged the then Prime Minister, the present Leader of the Opposition, to make it clear that he was advising President Johnson against those who were proposing an invasion of North Vietnam as a way of aiding the situation in South Vietnam, and on 30th June of this year 1050 he again addressed the present Leader of the Opposition and asked him to make it quite clear—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I am quoting from the Question—that we would not support any extension of the war into North Vietnam? Will he please make it clear that the Government's position is still that stated by him in those Questions?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that those were very wise words, but the right hon. Gentleman, when speaking from this Box, said that he had not been asked to agree to extend the war to North Vietnam, and that is my position today.