HL Deb 02 August 1971 vol 323 cc793-5

2.38 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My 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 can report on the progress of negotiations with Peking for full diplomatic representation between this country and the People's Republic of China.]

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, discussions about an exchange of Ambassadors have taken place between Her Majesty's Goverment and the People's Republic of China at intervals since 1950. Following the improvement in our relations with China, these discussions were resumed early this year and are continuing. The content of the discussions is confidential. I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a further statement.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for that reply, may I ask him what preconditions were made, and what obstacles arose during the course of these negotiations which may have held up their successful outcome?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, as these negotiations are at present continuing I think it would probably be unwise if we went into too much detail.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I hope the Government will recognise the imaginative step taken by the President of the United States in visiting China, and that, in the light of the much improved atmosphere between this country and China, Her Majesty's Government will make special efforts to bring about this recognition.

EARL FERRERS

Yes, my Lords. Of course we accept the new state of affairs that has occurred, and we are taking this into account. This is underlying the consideration which is being given to the matter.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether the existence of an independent, freedom-loving China is a cause which this country ought to abandon?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, we are concerned that all countries which are freedom loving should have the right to express their freedom in the best possible way. We are merely concerned to see that China is as approriately represented as possible.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would it not be most unfortunate if the opening of these discussions led to Taiwan being overtaken by the same fate at Tibet?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I think it is that kind of consideration that is underlying the detailed concern which is being given to this very point. There are arguments on both sides; the one which the noble Lord has brought forward is one of them.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, is not the noble Earl aware that we are represented in China by a Chargé d'Affaires, and it is merely a question about what status our representation should he? It does not involve the question of Taiwan at all.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, for a long period of time we have been concerned about an exchange of Ambassadors, and discussions are taking place to see whether this is possible.