§ Q6. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Prime Minister what proposals he made to President Johnson at his meeting in December to bring the Vietnam war to a speedy end.
§ The Prime MinisterDuring my visit to Washington and subsequently I offered, and President Johnson accepted, British assistance in the President's efforts to promote negotiations. So far there has been no positive response to the various approaches we have made to this end.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWill my right hon. Friend say, as a result of these negotiations and conversations, what practical steps to bring about peace are planned by President Johnson and the British Government and what steps are being taken and with what result?
§ The Prime MinisterWhen I returned from Washington I made clear that further steps were being considered. There was the Christmas truce, and the bombing truce, which has gone on for a month since it was introduced. The House will be aware of the very widespread system undertaken by the United States Government and the British Government in trying to get a message through to the point where we needed to go—to Hanoi—but so far there has been no response. However, we have played our full part in this operation.
§ Q7. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the North Vietnam Government has proposed to the United States of America peace negotiations without demanding the prior withdrawal of United States troops; whether this was one of the subjects he discussed with President Johnson; and with what result.
§ The Prime MinisterI know of no such proposal by the North Vietnamese Government. The rest of my hon. Friend's Question does not therefore arise.