HC Deb 28 April 1969 vol 782 c932
36. Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise at the Security Council, as a threat to world peace, the present frontier dispute between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and China.

Mr. Foley

No, Sir.

Mr. Brooks

Would not my hon. Friend agree that in view of all the dark hints which are being dropped by both sides, including yesterday by Lin Piao, that the use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out in this serious dispute, the Security Council should be asked to look into this? Does not this indicate the need for the Security Council itself to have represented on it people who can claim to speak for China?

Mr. Foley

I dealt with the latter part of that question in answer to a supplementary question earlier. Her Majesty's Government are not themselves involved in the Sino-Soviet dispute, and I have no reason to suppose that intervention by us would assist.

Mr. Shinwell

With the utmost respect to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks), is there any valid reason why we should prevent these two Communist countries from being at each other's throats?