HC Deb 01 May 1974 vol 872 cc1130-2
11. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to meet the United States Secretary of State.

Mr. James Callaghan

I have at present no firm arrangements for a further meeting with Dr. Kissinger, though there is a constant exchange of views.

Mr. Cryer

Can the Minister assure the House that, when he does meet the United States Secretary of State, the question of Vietnam will be raised, in particular the matter of the continued detention of political prisoners by the illiberal Thieu régime and the implementation of Article 21 of the Paris peace agreement under which America promised to contribute to the reconstruction of the country which it so dastardly savaged over the last few years? Will he raise these as matters of great importance and urgency that concern the people of this country?

Mr. Callaghan

The American administration are aware that it is the policy of the Labour Government to support the Paris peace agreement in all its forms. When I was in both South and North Vietnam just over a year ago, I asked that prisoners should be brought to trial—they exist in both areas—and that there should be international teams of inspection. I was referred by each side to the other, and each side told me that if the other would produce its prisoners it would do the same. So far we have not made any progress beyond that point.

Mr. Cormack

Is it not a fact that the aggression of the North towards the South has been proved beyond doubt? Will the right hon. Gentleman make clear when he meets the American Secretary of State that Britain is still committed to supporting the territorial integrity of South Vietnam?

Mr. Callaghan

The Paris peace agreements provide for that. They provide also for elections in South Vietnam, and these elections should be carried out as soon as it is possible to hold them.

Mr. Kinnock

As we are a party to the Paris agreement, which has accorded equal diplomatic status to the Governments of North and South Vietnam, will my right hon. Friend consider giving to the Provisional Revolutionary Government in North Vietnam similar status to that which is given to the Government of Thieu in South Vietnam?

Mr. Callaghan

The answer to that question is "No". There are already two Governments in Vietnam, one in North Vietnam and one in South Vietnam. In the view of the British Government, the introduction of a third Government would not help to settle that area. The best thing is that there should be free elections in South Vietnam.

Mr. Marten

Does the Foreign Secretary agree that the recent deterioration in Anglo-American relations was due largely to the fact that we were members of the Common Market, which tried to speak with one voice, that the voice with which we had to speak was nearly always that of France—the lowest common denominator of all nine—and that the sooner we can speak with our own voice the sooner will Anglo-American relations be on a far better basis?

Mr. Callaghan

There is a problem, so long as the Community is trying to move forward on the political front, about consultation with the United States; and that took up a great deal of the discussions we had recently. I have made clear, I believe with the support of the House, that we regard ourselves as free to consult the United States at any stage of any consultations that are going on with the Community.