HC Deb 18 November 1968 vol 773 cc880-1
15. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the further steps being taken by Her Majesty's Government to try to secure a cease-fire in Vietnam.

Mr. M. Stewart

Those directly concerned in the war are seeking ways to enable the wider talks to be started in Paris, which we all hope could lead to a cease-fire and a political settlement. I do not believe Her Majesty's Government have an immediate rôle to play in these negotiations: but all the parties to them know that we are ready to help whenever this would be useful.

Mr. Winnick

Since both the United States and the Communists, the National Liberation Front and the North Vietnamese, realise that there can be no military solution to the war, is there now a chance that the South Vietnamese Administration will attend the Paris talks so that the conference can proceed and find a solution to South Vietnam's future?

Mr. Stewart

My hon. Friend may have noticed that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 7th November, expressed the very clear view that the South Vietnamese Government should attend the Paris talks, and I repeat that.

Forward to