§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what the intervals have been between the installation of successive new Governments in South Veitnam since the overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem and their recognition by Her Majesty's Government.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government recognised the Government of Nguyen Ngoc Tho on November 8, 1963, one week after the coup d'état began, six days after it was evidently successful and two days after we were formally requested to do so. The circumstances of subsequent changes in the Government did not require a formal act of recognition by Her Majesty's Government.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. That is a short period. Have Her Majesty's Government pointed out to our American 716 Allies the apparent discrepancy between the shortness of the period needed for recognition of a Government and the maintenance of that recognition towards successive Governments in South Vietnam when none of these Governments has been elected by its people and none of them controls its own territory, and, on the other hand, the American reluctance to recognise the Government in China, which has been in undoubted control of its own territory for sixteen years?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I think that, without any interference or prodding from Her Majesty's Government, the United States Government are fully aware of the circumstances on the mainland of China.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, could I press the noble Lord for an answer? Have we pointed out to them the apparent discrepancy between these two specific acts, recognition and the absence of recognition?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, to the best of my knowledge, we have not specifically pointed that out.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, could the Minister reply to the Question in so far as it relates to the installation of successive new Governments since the overthrow of Diem?—I think there have been about twelve. Would the Government use their influence with the United States to secure the establishment of a national representative Government in South Vietnam, including representatives of the National Liberation Front, and so contribute towards peace in that territory?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, there have been, or course, changes of Government in Vietnam, as there have been changes of Government, perhaps not sufficiently frequent, in other countries. That does not necessitate any specific act of recognition on the part of foreign countries. With regard to the second part of the noble Lord's question, I would suggest that that is an entirely different subject on which perhaps he would like to put down a Question at some later stage.