HC Deb 09 March 1967 vol 742 cc1742-3
29. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state his reason for the ban on admission to Great Britain of a spokesman of the Vietnamese National Liberation Front; and if he will now reconsider that decision.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Because, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, I have concluded that it would not be in the national interest to agree, in present circumstances, to visits by representatives of the South Vietnamese National Liberation Front.

Mr. Allaun

Will the next application made on behalf of Oxford, Cambridge and London students be considered favourably, both in the cause of free speech and because the former Foreign Secretary said that it was in the national interest for both sides to be heard?

Mr. Jenkins

The national interest, and certainly the interest of the Government, is to bring this war to an end as soon as we can. It is the view of my right hon. Friend and myself that this would not be served by a change of policy on this matter.

Mr. Heffer

Will my right hon. Friend not agree that his reply has nothing to do with the national interest? The American point of view is heard extensively in this country. Surely it is quite right that an alternative position, democratically expressed, should be allowed? Is it not time that the Government reconsidered their view over these matters?

Mr. Jenkins

I have the impression that the other point of view is also heard sometimes.

Mr. A. Royle

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his decision will be welcomed on this side of the House and that the other point of view is put regularly by hon. Members below the Gangway on his side of the House?

Mr. Jenkins

I do not want to go into these wider questions. I do not think that it would be wise to make a change in policy at present.

Mr. Kelley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in all wars the first casualty is truth, and that the only way in which the people of this country can possibly arrive at any conception of the truth is by hearing both sides?

Mr. Jenkins

If the first casualty is truth, the great desire must be to bring the war to an end as soon as possible.

Mr. Allaun

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.