HC Deb 24 April 1972 vol 835 cc1028-31
2. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest situation in Vietnam in the light of Her Majesty's Government's position as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference.

28. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Indo-China, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's position as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference.

38. Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approaches that have been made to the Soviet authorities during the last seven days with a view to re-convening the Geneva Conference on Indo-China.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Royle)

I would refer to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) and for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 17th April. This contained a full statement of the Government's position on the situation in Vietnam. On 20th April the Ambassador in Moscow reiterated to Mr. Gromyko our suggestion that the Geneva Conference should be reconvened. Mr. Gromyko replied that he did not consider this practicable.—[Vol. 835. c. 16–17.]

Mr. Huckfield

Is the hon. Gentleman really interested in the re-election of President Nixon, or is he interested in securing peace in Vietnam? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that if President Nixon escalates his bombing, especially of Hanoi and Haiphong, and if there is any retaliation involving the bombing of the South, the escalation of this war will be of proportions that we have not seen before, especially nuclear proportions? Will the hon. Gentleman therefore make strong representations to President Nixon to clear out of South Vietnam for good?

Mr. Royle

The recent intensification of the fighting in Vietnam is clearly the result of a flagrant invasion of South Vietnam by North Vietnamese regular troops equipped with tanks, heavy artillery and rocket missiles. We greatly regret that the North Vietnamese should have taken this action instead of responding to numerous American and South Vietnamese appeals for negotiations without preconditions.

Mr. Blaker

Have not the recent attacks by the North Vietnamese across the boundary to South Vietnam destroyed their claim to depend on the support of the population in the South? In addition, have not the repeated invasions by North Vietnamese in Laos and Cambodia been in breach of undertakings which they themselves gave at the Geneva Conference?

Mr. Royle

I agree with my hon. Friend's remarks. Certainly there has been no popular support in South Vietnam for the invasion. The columns of refugees moving south ahead of the invaders are an indication of this. In Saigon, even politicians in opposition to President Thieu have condemned the invasions.

Mr. Cormack

Is my hon. Friend aware that his forthright statements both today and in answer to Written Questions last week will be greeted with relief and approval by all people of good sense who genuinely want peace in South Vietnam? Does not the naked and brutal aggression from the north prove the total failure of the policy of infiltration and guerrilla tactics pursued over the past several years?

Mr. Royle

Her Majesty's Government remain ready to help promote a peaceful settlement in Vietnam in any way which may be open to them. But, to be effective, any initiative by Her Majesty's Government would have to be acceptable to all the parties involved in the conflict. Unfortunately, the recent Communist attack makes it clear that they still wish to try to impose their will on South Vietnam by force rather than seek a negotiated settlement.

Mr. Ford

Will not the hon. Gentleman agree that, in the unlikely event of South Vietnam being overrun by Communist forces, the extinction of minorities is possible? Will he consult his co-Chairman in order to take every step to avoid such a contingency?

Mr. Royle

This is a matter which we would be glad to discuss with the Soviet co-Chairman if he were willing to do so.

Mr. Richard

Is the hon. Gentleman aware the recent events in Vietnam cause those of us on this side of the House deep concern? Secondly, is he aware that we adhere to our previously stated policy that the only way to bring this conflict to an end is by reconvening the Geneva Conference? Thirdly, is he aware that we would condemn in the strongest possible terms the Government of the United States of America if the heightened level of military activity were to prove to have been a change in their stated policy of withdrawal from South-East Asia?

Mr. Royal

I think the hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that Her Majesty's Government are also deeply concerned about the situation in Vietnam. President Nixon has warned on a number of occasions that if the North Vietnamese stepped up military activity in Vietnam while United States ground forces were withdrawing, thereby endangering those American troops which remained, he reserved the right to meet the threat by the use of United States air power against military targets in North Vietnam. The North Vietnamese, therefore, know and knew what American reaction was likely to be when they launched their fresh invasion of the South.