§ 3.8 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 whether they will propose to the Soviet Government through the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as Co-Chairman, the reconvening of the Geneva Conference with a view to establishing peaceful conditions in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, the parties to the conflict in Vietnam and the Soviet Co-Chairman are all well aware that we are ready to act in any way that might help to end the war in Vietnam and assist the situation in the neighbouring countries. Should those directly involved desire it and the Soviet Co-Chairman be agreeable, we would of course be prepared to take any action in our capacity 759 as Co-Chairman that seemed desirable or feasible.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming that reply, so far as it goes, may I ask my noble friend this question? When was it that the British Government made their last approach to the Soviet Government in this matter? I know that they have made many. Is it not the case that there was a very favourable response in 1965, broken down only by the distorted Tonkin Gulf episode? In view of the fact that the parties now accept the Geneva Agreement, is it not now possible to take steps to try to re-convene the Geneva Conference?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, the Soviet Government are well aware of the attitude of Her Majesty's Government and this has been made clear on a number of occasions. The particular point to which the noble Lord is directing his argument is surely related to what is the best way of stopping the killing in Vietnam. It is the view of Her Majesty's Government—and I have no reason to suppose that the Soviet Government dissent from this—that now that talks are directly going on between the combatants it would be better that they should in fact negotiate and bring this war to an end. Although, as I have made clear, we should be willing to do anything that would help, in our view a further intervention of this kind at the moment would not necessarily contribute anything.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, repeating my appreciation, may I ask the noble Lord to consider these points: whether the Paris talks are not breaking down on the one point of the reciprocal withdrawal of the American troops and the Hanoi troops; whether the thirteen points of the National Liberation Front and the eight points of President Nixon do not establish ground for agreement except for that one issue; and whether President Nixon might not be saved from his present dilemma if the responsibility for a settlement were placed on other Governments as well as the Americans?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I feel that this is very much a matter of opinion. I do not want to go back into past history—on which the noble Lord is much better informed than I. We are not now concerned with digging over the 760 past; and I know that he did not do that. Everybody knows the position of Her Majesty's Government and, I hope, of all peace-loving people in the matter. I believe that the most important thing is that the direct negotiations should succeed. It is our view that an initiative of the kind the noble Lord is now proposing is not likely to contribute to what is the important thing, the end of the killing. But we remain ready at any time to do anything in our capacity as Co-Chairman that seems desirable.