HL Deb 16 July 1952 vol 177 cc1165-7

2.48 p.m.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can supplement the information given by the Minister of State concerning his recent conversations with Mr. Nehru with a fuller statement; and whether Mr. Nehru indicated, and the Minister of Defence conveyed to the Cabinet, the trend of Indian opinion on the Korean situation.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister of Defence and my right honourable friend had a cordial but necessarily brief discussion at breakfast with Mr. Nehru and his sister, Mrs. Pandit, on June 8. In the debate in the other place on July 1 my right honourable friend gave some account of the conversation. I have nothing to add to that account. My right honourable friend expressly said that he was giving only his side of the conversation and could not give the views of the Prime Minister of India without Mr. Nehru's permission.

As regards the second part of the question, I can only express respectful surprise that a former Cabinet Minister should expect to be publicly informed as to whether any particular matter was or was not reported to the Cabinet.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, I accept the rebuke of the noble Marquess, but he will understand that we are dealing with matters of great urgency and world importance. The purpose of my Question was, first, to ask if one could discreetly inquire whether Indian good offices were available in the truce talks. The other purpose was to ask whether the Government recognise that, without the active co-operation of the Asian States, the restoration of peace in the Far East will be very difficult.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, had the noble Viscount framed his Question in those terms, I might have been able to give him a more helpful answer. All I can say at the moment is that certainly we pay heed to any representations from India in connection with this very delicate and difficult subject.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that public opinion is becoming extremely disturbed, because a speech like that of General Collins, reported this morning, gives the impression that we are relying entirely upon military action to bring to an end a dangerous situation which, in its essence is political?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, we have for a long time been anxious to see this trouble brought to a conclusion by the best available means. We are still anxious that it should proceed on those lines.

LORD STRABOLGI

May I, as a humble Back-Bencher and one who was never a Cabinet Minister, ask the noble Marquess whether he is aware that there have been widespread reports in reputable newspapers that the Prime Minister of India has been using his good offices to try to find some way out of the deadlock over the exchange of prisoners and other matters holding up the truce in Korea; and also why Parliament cannot be informed of these matters and given some hope for the future?

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I have, of course, seen the reports to which the noble Lord refers, but I think—at any rate, I hope—that the noble Lord will understand that these negotiations—or rather discussions: they are not negotiations—have to be conducted on a confidential basis; and, however much he or we may be desirous of giving them full publicity, it would not be calculated, I think, to advance matters towards the end which we all desire.

LORD STRABOLGI

I appreciate the noble Marquess's reply. Perhaps, however, he or the Minister of Defence can inform me why the interview with the Prime Minister was necessarily brief, in view of the great lead that has been taken in world affairs by the Indian Government.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I think I can answer that, although I do not wish to encroach on my noble and gallant friend's preserves. It was brief because the two Ministers were invited by the Prime Minister of India whilst they were breaking their journey on their way to Korea to have breakfast with him during their wait at Delhi airport.

LORD STRABOLGI

Is the noble Marquess aware that some most important affairs of State were decided by his father and Mr. Lloyd George (as he then was) over breakfast, and that breakfasts can be prolonged when discussions are important?