§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD MILFORDI 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, now that the negotiations for peace in Vietnam have resumed in Paris, they will urge President Nixon on humanitarian grounds to stop the bombing and to ensure that nothing is done to prevent the Paris talks reaching an honourable and agreed solution.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIENo, my Lords. The United States Government has made it quite clear that it wishes to end the war through a negotiated settlement. President Nixon's constructive proposals of May 8 could ensure a successful solution of the Paris Talks.
§ LORD MILFORDMy Lords, I am afraid that I find the noble Baroness's Answer very unsatisfactory. For several years we have had unsatisfactory answers on Vietnam. May I ask the noble Baroness what is the Government's attitude to the statement of the Secretary of the United Nations which was given on the radio today?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I assume that the noble Lord is referring to the statement made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In actual fact a statement was made in June to the effect that no dykes would be bombed; that the only bombing would be in connection with the necessary military operations.
§ LORD MILFORDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness, may I ask whether it is the fact that the world Churches and various other people have given evidence that dykes in North Vietnam have been bombed and have been broken? Further, would not the noble Baroness agree that, however accurate a pilot may try to be, bombs are not completely accurate and dykes can be smashed, and are being smashed in North Vietnam?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR or BELHELVIEMy Lords, they are not deliberately being smashed, for the reasons I have given. It is always possible, however, in military operations for this to take place.
§ LORD MILFORDMy Lords, is it not hyprocrisy—
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLIC0E)My Lords, I hesitate to interrupt, and I apologise to the noble Lord for asking him, as it were by proxy, to resume his seat. But I think the noble Lord, Lord Derwent, had been called. I think it would be right and proper that we should move on from the noble Lord's Question. If he wishes to pursue this particular line of questioning, he can at a future date put down a further Question to my noble friend.
§ LORD MILFORDMy Lords, I was getting on my feet—