HC Deb 26 April 1967 vol 745 cc1614-7

Mr. Dickens (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the damage and casualties suffered by the British ship, s.s. "Dartford", as a result of United States bombing of Haiphong harbour yesterday.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. George Brown)

I am aware of Press reports, all apparently relying on North Vietnamese sources, that s.s. "Dartford", which flies the British flag, is registered and owned in Hong Kong, and is currently being operated on charter to Chinese interests, has been struck by bullets in Haiphong harbour.

Her Majesty's Consul-General in Hanoi has sought an interview with the authorities there to determine the precise extent of damage and casualties, and to seek their permission to interview the master in order that he can offer all the assistance that lies within his power.

Mr. Dickens

Given the fact that the news agency reports from Tokyo are correct, will the Foreign Secretary agree that this seems to be the latest in a steady development of escalation in this war in Vietnam? Will he not make the strongest representations in Washington against this latest outrage?

Mr. Brown

I do not see how one can take any reports so far received, which, I repeat, all appear to be based on North Vietnamese sources, as necessarily correct. What I have told my hon. Friend is that the moment we heard about it I asked the Consul-General to go in and find out what had happened and give the master of the ship all the help he could.

I am sure that my hon. Friend will understand that Her Majesty's Consul-General cannot even go to see the ship or the master unless Hanoi gives him permission to do so.

Mr. Geoffrey Wilson

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that on 8th December I asked his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade whether he had any information about foreign firms using the British flag as a flag of convenience for trading, with ships registered in Hong Kong and with foreign crews, with North Vietnamese or North Korean crews, between Communist ports and North Vietnam? Will he inquire whether this was such a ship, because, if so, that would seem to be an abuse of the British flag?

Mr. Brown

With all the attention which I normally give to what the hon. Gentleman says and does, I did not know that he had done that. I will inquire into it.

Lord Balniel

When the right hon. Gentleman has some reliable information on this subject, will he be so kind as to report back to the House?

Mr. Brown

If the House so pleases, of course. One of the interesting things is that it is only a week or so since a British ship was mined, holed and almost sunk in Saigon Harbour by a mine placed there by North Vietnam. I am interested that nobody in the House asked me a question about that.

Mr. Paget

Will my right hon. Friend consider whether it is possible to prevent the British flag from being used in circumstances of this sort and for purposes of this sort, as that is very apt to involve a lot of other people in great danger in trying to rescue those who are no business of ours?

Mr. Brown

That is a much wider question, involving other considerations. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I will think about it, but it raises many other questions.

Mr. Orme

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that this latest escalation into Haiphong and Hanoi is reflected by the great concern in the serious British Press this morning? Will he reiterate the statement by the Prime Minister last year condemning such attacks on the population centres of Hanoi and Haiphong?

Mr. Brown

I do not like this happening at all—and that is the understatement of the afternoon. But I repeat what I just said: when it happens in Haiphong, it is regarded by some of my hon. Friends as an escalation; when it happens in Saigon Harbour, it passes unnoticed. I think that we will have much more impact on events if we distribute our condemnation a bit more equally.

Mr. Lubbock

Does not the Foreign Secretary realise that whether or not a British ship was involved the bombardment of Hanoi and Haiphong, coupled with the escalation in the U.S. bombing attacks on Mig bases in North Vietnam, can lead only to the result that ultimately Communist China will be drawn into this confrontation with global results? Will he, therefore, make the strongest representations to the United States Government against—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Lubbock

—such attacks?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am trying to protect the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock). Hon. Members must listen to opinions which they do not like.

Mr. Brown

I recognise the hon. Gentleman's opinions and those of my hon. Friends. I do not share them in so far as they believe that we will avoid the dangers by appearing, or acting, or speaking in a partisan way. So long as this war goes on, the dangers of escalation will be enormous, and the consequences are terrifying. That is why I am doing what little I can do to try to stop the war. What I am saying is that I do not think that we will influence events by choosing one side on whom to visit our condemnation and seeming to put up with what the other side does.

Mr. Whitaker

Did the United States Government give Her Majesty's Government any warning that they would bomb Haiphong Harbour, in view of the possible danger to international shipping?

Mr. Brown

I had many discussions when I was in Washington last week about many subjects, but I do not think that I would want to be drawn on that one.