§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to present a Petition which has been signed by 100,000 citizens of the United Kingdom. The Petition is addressed
To the honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.Those who have signed it are gravely disturbed by the mounting cruelty and destruction of the war in Vietnam. They know to their deep regret that the war is already causing death, mutilation and 594 distress to men, women and children throughout Vietnam and they fear that it may extend to neighbouring territories and to the world. They therefore pray that Her Majesty's Government may act as a mediator for peace. They believe that peace could be obtained by a settlement based on the essentials of the Geneva Agreements of 1954. They are convinced that a further continuation of the fighting can do nothing to promote a settlement based on freedom and justice for the people of Vietnam but will only increasingly imperil their future prosperity and tranquillity and render more difficult their reconciliation. Moreover, while the fighting goes on the whole world situation is poisoned and it is impossible to make progress in strengthening the United Nations or constructive work for peace.The Petition was drawn up and widely signed before the appointment of the mission of Prime Ministers by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, but I have no doubt that those who signed it earnestly hope that the mission may have a swift and full success in bringing this brutal and anti-social conflict to an end.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.