South Vietnamese Troops (Malaysia Training Courses)

HC Deb 13 June 1966 vol 729 cc1034-5

45. Mr. Russell Kerr

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are currently engaged in the training in Malaysia of South Vietnamese troops; what plans he has to increase this and other assistance by Britain to the United States war effort in Vietnam; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Healey

South Vietnamese soldiers have, since 1961, been attending courses at training centres designed primarily for our own and Commonwealth use. The total number of British Service men operating these centres is 55, of whom only three are concerned exclusively with courses for the South Vietnamese. We have no plans to increase this or to give other assistance to Vietnamese forces or to American forces in Vietnam.

Mr. Kerr

Can my right hon. Friend inform the House how he reconciles his Answer with the Government's professed policy of non-intervention in the disastrous war in Vietnam?

Mr. Healey

Yes, Sir. We have made it clear that we have no intention of participating ourselves in the fighting in Vietnam or supplying weapons to Vietnam. This remains our policy, but the training of Vietnamese service men started as far back as 1961 under the previous Government and we see no reason why we should not assist in the training of a free country to defend its freedom.

Mr. Thorpe

Irrespective of the year in which this facility was first offered, is it not a very odd way for a co-Chairman to exercise his neutrality?

Mr. Healey

I do not know how odd it is, but I must remind the hon. Gentleman that the Soviet co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference is supplying arms on a large scale for the fighting in Vietnam.

Mr. Michael Foot

In view of the appalling events which are now taking place in South Vietnam in particular, as revealed by the actions of the Buddhists in protest, will my right hon. Friend reconsider and withdraw his statement that the Government of South Vietnam is a free Government? Will he also give immediate orders for stopping even this meagre support for South Vietnam which is now being provided by this method, in view of the barbarous methods of war now being employed by our American allies in Vietnam?

Mr. Healey

I would have thought that if my hon. Friend regarded some of the methods used in Vietnam as barbarous he would welcome our participation in training the soldiers of South Vietnam to fight in the way which has enabled us to bring confrontation to an end at a minimum loss of blood and treasure.