§ Q10. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the policy of Her Majesty's Government in helping to mediate in the Vietnam war, he will, in order to retain a non-committed position, end the training of South Vietnamese officer cadets by British troops in Malaysia.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. AllaunHow can Britain succeed as a mediator if she is helping one side in this way, and if we are publicly supporting every military action which the Americans take?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend has got this wrong. So war as this jungle training is concerned, it is a question of providing very limited but useful facilities for training cadets of the South Vietnamese Government to resist internal jungle warfare such as we had in Malaya some years ago. It is not a question of helping one side against another. To use that phrase implies that North Vietnam is at war with South Vietnam—which not everybody has accepted. As I explained previously to the House, our position as co-chairman is not in any way affected. Nobody is trying to suggest that even the Russian position as co-chairman has been affected by the fact that, as we are told, they have been sending missiles and other military equipment to North Vietnam for use in what is a war across the frontiers. Although we have our views and the Russians have theirs, this should not prevent our getting together as co-chairmen to take the initiative to bring those concerned round a table to end the fighting.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIs the Prime Minister aware that both his Government 1109 and my Government have accepted that we must assist—[Interruption.]—that it is right that we should assist South Vietnam to maintain its independence against aggression, and that until aggression is given up from the north it is right to take such action as he proposes?
§ The Prime MinisterI have always disliked this form of terminology. It is true that the Queen's Government, both under the right hon. Gentleman and under me, have taken this view, and I think that it is right that we should provide this assistance in the sphere of jungle training in Commonwealth territory, which we do—and, indeed, we have a certain amount of successful expertise, going back to the period of fighting in Malaya. We are not in any way involved in any military operations of any kind within Vietnam.
§ Mr. Michael FootIf this is a question of aggression, as suggested by the Leader of the Opposition, should not the matter be referred to the United Nations, so that it can decide whether aggression is taking place?
§ The Prime MinisterThe help given by Her Majesty's Government in the matter of training South Vietnamese officers and others in resisting subversive jungle attacks of this kind began long before there was any question or suggestion of aggression or of cross-frontier movements of troops. This help was given to the South Vietnamese Government so that they could deal with activities of this kind within their own borders. It does not depend in any sense upon the assumption, or charge, or proof of aggression by North Vietnam.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsWill the Prime Minister make it clear to his hon. Friend that there is no such thing as a non-committed position for the United Kingdom in Vietnam, and that Her Majesty's Government, with the support of the House, are supporting the Americans in preventing South Vietnam being taken over by the Communists?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have explained our position very fully in the past, both to our hon. Friends and to hon. Members opposite. I do not think that we need the help of the hon. Member to summarise the position.