HL Deb 29 February 1968 vol 289 cc899-900

2.35 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, accepting the courtesies of this House, may 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 troops and personnel are being trained by British instructors in Malaysia for service in Vietnam.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, for several years past, small numbers of South Vietnamese and United States servicemen have been attending courses from time to time at the British Jungle Warfare School in Johore. As in the case of other troops from other countries at the School, we make no stipulation about where they will subsequently serve.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in view of the decisions of the Conferences of our own Labour Party, of the Trades Union Congress, of the Liberal Party and of the United Nations Association, all urging that this Government should dissociate itself from the war in Vietnam, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not time that our Government reconsidered any support which is being given to the American forces and their allies in Vietnam?

LORD CHALFONT

No, my Lords, Whatever may be said about recommendations and decisions elsewhere, so far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, and as my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said, our aim and duty is to bring the parties in the Vietnam war to the conference table. Everything else will be subordinate to that aim, and in our view the training at the Jungle Warfare School would not in any way affect this policy.

LORD BROCKWAY

But, my Lords, how can you expect to exert an influence to bring the parties together if you are openly supporting one side in the conflict?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, it has been known for some time that the two co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference do, in their separate ways, support the causes of the separate sides in the Vietnamese war. I would point out that the British co-Chairman has many times offered to return to the conference table in Geneva. It is the Russian co-Chairman who refuses to come.