§ Q6. Mr. Dickensasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the United States Government's policy, expressed by President Johnson, not to allow a neutral Vietnam, he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the people of South Vietnam should be enabled to elect a government of their free choice.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 30th June to Questions by my hon, Friends the Members for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heifer) and Rushcliffe (Mr. Gardner).
§ Mr. DickensNotwithstanding that reply, is my right hon. Friend aware that we on this side welcome him back from Moscow most warmly and are appreciative of his endeavours to strive for a new Anglo-Soviet initiative on Vietnam? Is he further aware that we can succeed in arriving at a new Anglo-Soviet initiative only by completely dissociating ourselves from American policy in North Vietnam? Is he further aware—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is enough to answer.
§ The Prime MinisterI have said a number of times, and I think that this is the right answer to give, that the negotiations that all of us would like to see with a view to ending the war in Vietnam provide the right forum for settling the future of Vietnam in accordance with the wishes of the people of Vietnam.
With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, this has been fully debated in the House on past occasions. I should, perhaps, tell him that although I saw large Soviet crowds and, indeed, got some friendly waves and cheers, I did not see any placards about peace in Vietnam while I was there.
§ Mr. Michael FootCan my right hon. Friend tell us whether he was able to discuss with the Soviet leaders the de-escalation of the war in Vietnam and proposals for reducing the military operations by the United States and others in Vietnam? Will he make representations to the United States Government when he goes there that it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that these operations should be reduced to enable peace initiatives to be taken by people in Moscow, Peking, Hanoi, this country and elsewhere?
§ The Prime MinisterIf I receive permission at the end of Questions, I hope to answer some Questions on the Order Paper about my visit to Moscow. It is certainly the fact that while I was there I had lengthy discussions with Mr. Kosygin about all matters affecting Vietnam. With regard to the suggestion that there should be a reduction, or, indeed, an ending, of the bombing, on the one hand, and infiltration, on the other hand. this has always been the policy both of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers and Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. HeathHas the Prime Minister had any official information from President Johnson that his policy is not to allow a neutral Vietnam? That is not the position as I understand it.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. When I answered the Question before, I said that I had certainly not had any suggestion from President Johnson that that was his 379 policy. On the past occasion I described what I understood to be his policy. What I said on that occasion is correct.