§ 15. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government's pledged support for the United States Government's policy in South Vietnam includes support for the threat of military action against the Chinese People's Republic made by the United States Government in respect of events in that area.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerHon. Members will have noted that President Johnson reiterated at his Press Conference on 24th July that the United States seeks no wider war.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs it not a fact that the American Under-Secretary of State, Mr. McGeorge Bundy, said the other day that the United States did not exclude the idea of extending the war to North Vietnam and that since then the Prime Minister of South Vietnam and the Commander-in-Chief of the South Vietnam Air Force, both of whom are literally in American pay and 984 under American orders, have both said that they intended to attack North Vietnam and have already dropped sabotage squads in North Vietnam? In the circumstances, will not the Foreign Secretary at least join with General de Gaulle and the Soviet Government in demanding a reconvening of the 14-Power Conference at Geneva?
§ Mr. ButlerI do not think that the conditions for a conference are as yet satisfied, partly because at least one nation involved—namely, South Vietnam —would not attend. When I go to Moscow—by tomorrow—however, I hope to have conversations with the Soviet Government on this point, and I will bear in mind what is said in this House.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am sure that everyone will welcome what the Foreign Secretary has said about discussing the whole question of South-East Asia when he is in Moscow. Will he also recall that Mr. Bundy said that neutralisation might on certain terms be acceptable for both North and South Vietnam?
§ Mr. ButlerYes. I think that that depends upon the terms.