§ 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 what exchanges have taken place with the Governments of India and Pakistan regarding the danger of war arising from events in East Bengal.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has throughout been in continuing and close touch with the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India in this dangerous situation, and these contacts are continuing. We are also in close touch with the United States and other Governments.
§ BARONESS LEE OF ASHERIDGEMy Lords, can we assume that Her Majesty's Government will give wholehearted support to the Government of India and keep in mind that in East Bengal a military 1145 junta is seeking to replace a democratically elected Government?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think that is slightly far removed from the original Question. The primary interest of Her Majesty's Government at the moment is to do what we can in the cause of peace and to stop the fighting which is going on in that part of the world.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while appreciating the action which has been reported, and given the fact that yesterday it was admitted for the first time on both sides that fighting had actually occurred, is it not now necessary for more urgent action, even on a world scale, to be taken to prevent war? May I also ask whether, in view of Answers given in this House and yesterday in another place, that India and Pakistan have not asked that this matter should be brought before the Security Council, it is possible, in view of the danger of war, for another Member State to bring before the Security Council the need for action in such matters?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I know that the noble Lord has asked me this question on many occasions, and I can assure him, as I did on Tuesday, that it is very active in the minds of Her Majesty's Government at the present time. Of course it is a matter of judgment as to when or if to refer such a matter to the Security Council. The situation on the ground is still somewhat uncertain, but I assure the noble Lord that the point he has raised is certainly very much in the minds of the Government.
§ BARONESS GAITSKELLMy Lords, would not the Minister agree that to place too much reliance and hope on the Security Council's judgment is really way out, since China helps Pakistan, Russia helps India, the United States helps both of them and we, to some extent, also help both countries? Therefore to place this reliance on the judgment of the Security Council seems to me to be a faint hope.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, this is indeed one of the considera- 1146 tions in the minds of the Government in this matter.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that in this tragic situation it is most important that the Government of the United Kingdom should do everything in their power not to take sides, because there are probably two sides to the question?
§ BARONESS LEE OF ASHERIDGEMy Lords, may I beg the Government to take sides? We all devoutedly want peace, but surely we do not want peace at any price. We remember Munich; we know that it is all too easy to surrender to military dictators. But we have on one side the Government of India, and on the other side we have to accept the fact that the elected Government of East Bengal—
§ TIE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I do not really think the House will expect me to comment on that statement by the noble Baroness, except to say that of course our interest is to do everything we can to stop the fighting and to encourage both sides in this unhappy incident to arrive at a political solution.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether it would he possible for Her Majesty's Government to urge upon the Security Council of the United Nations (and, whatever its weakness, is not the Security Council the only international organisation to act?) two things: first, that there should be a United Nations presence to prevent a conflict between the two sides; secondly, that there should be a political solution in East Bengal, which would be in accordance with the United Nations Charter, by which democratic decision should be restored to that territory.
§ TIIE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think that we are rather transferring the question from India and Pakistan to the United Nations. I certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said, and I am sure that the House will echo his hope that a political solution will be obtained.