§ 4. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek to attach British officers to units in Vietnam as observers.
§ Mr. HealeyNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenBut would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in the interests of peace, British forces must keep up to date in the skills" and techniques of counter-insurgency warfare? As the confrontation in Malaysia might fold up, ought we not to attach some British officers to the Commonwealth troops fighting so nobly for the defence of freedom in South Vietnam?
§ Mr. HealeyI recognise that it is desirable that we should keep in touch with developments which might be relevant to the rôle of our own forces. That is the reason why we have attached three additional defence attaches to the British Embassy in Saigon.
§ Mr. ParkIs my right hon. Friend aware that any proposal which involves a British military presence in Vietnam in any capacity whatsoever would be most strenuously resisted both by the Labour movement and by the country? Will my right hon. Friend reaffirm that the Government have no such intention?
§ Mr. HealeyYes, Sir.