§ 11. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recognise the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam.
§ 8. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recognise the Provisional Revolutionary Government in Vietnam.
§ 25. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards recognition of the so-called Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo. The PRG do not meet our long-standing criteria for recognition.
§ Mr. CryerIn view of that answer, will the Minister convey to his right hon. Friend the possibility of reviewing the situation, since the PRG signed four out of the eight sections of the Paris Peace Agreement—an agreement that has been supported by successive British Governments? Will he also take into account the possibility that recognition may bring peace and, further, the means of peace in South Vietnam, which is a particularly unhappy country? Will he seek every possible means of achieving peace there?
§ Mr. EnnalsI assure my hon. Friend that I share his concern that there should be peace in both North and South Vietnam. This can best be achieved by fully carrying out the Paris Agreement. I cannot for a moment accept that peace could be brought about by recognising two Governments in the south. There are already two Governments in Vietnam, and three, I think, would not add anything to it.
§ Mr. TaylorFollowing the normal criteria of recognition, does the Minister accept that the so-called Provisional Government of South Vietnam have broken every single peace agreement with which they have been associated?
§ Mr. EnnalsI am not going to make any comment on that question, any more than I would comment on some of the other signatories to the agreement, who also, I believe, have not fulfilled their obligations.