§ 3.13 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether seeing that (1) in their view Formosa and the Pescadores are territory the de jure sovereignty of which is uncertain and undetermined; and (2) that, in the opinion of the United States Government as expressed by the Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson, on 6th January, 1950, whatever sort of China was recognised by the United States Formosa should be regarded as part of it; they will consider the advisability of suggesting to the United States joint submission of the legal aspects of the aforesaid conflicting views to the International Court of Justice as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)My Lords, it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that no useful purpose could be served in the circumstances of this case by pursuing the course suggested by the noble Viscount.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his Answer. Is he aware that five years ago in this House I said that Formosa would eventually fall into the lap of China? What odds is the noble Marquess prepared to lay me against that eventuality happening?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, when I was at school I was a bookmaker, a very lucrative profession. Since then I have given up betting.