HC Deb 01 March 1965 vol 707 cc166-8W
37. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation in South Vietnam and the steps he is taking to secure a political settlement.

52. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a further statement on his consultations regarding the negotiation of a peaceful settlement in Vietnam.

63. Mr. Ensor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the present situation in South Vietnam, he will make representations for the calling of a high-level conference in an attempt to stop the war in Vietnam.

Mr. M. Stewart

I can add little at present to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23rd February. The House may however like to know that, as part of our confidential diplomatic discussions, we have been in touch with the Soviet Government. I am now awaiting their comments on certain views which our Ambassador in Moscow communicated to them on 20th February. I would not want to prejudice the prospects by going into detail about these conversations at present.

42. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now bring before the Security Council, as a threat to world peace, the United States' actions in Southern Vietnam, the United States' bombing of North Vietnam, the Soviet and Chinese pledges of aid against aggression given to North Vietnam, and the United States decision to reply to such aid by force.

Mr. M. Stewart

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 15th February to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Newens).

43. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the official statement of the Soviet Prime Minister Mr. Kosygin on his recent visit to Hanoi that he continued to support the 1964 Declaration of the Cairo Conference of Uncommitted Nations which called for a conference of the powers participating in the 1954 Geneva Conference on Vietnam and the 1962 Geneva Conference on Laos, with a view to restoring peace in that area, he will now approach the Soviet Government, with a view to a joint initiative for convening a conference of this kind.

Mr. M. Stewart

As I explained in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) on 22nd February, recent official statements by the Soviet Government have not called for a conference on Vietnam. Nor has there been any confirmation from the Soviet Government of reports in the Paris Press on this subject. As part of our confidential diplomatic discussions on Vietnam, we have however been in touch with the Soviet Government.

49. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek the observance by all States and Governments represented at the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indo-China of the provisions of Articles 12 and 13 of the Final Declaration of the Conference, which was adhered to by Her Majesty's Government at the time.

Mr. M. Stewart

I should like to see these two Articles observed by all who accepted them, and particularly by the authorities in North Vietnam.

Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish the report on the United States bombing of targets in North Vietnam sent to him officially by the International Control Commission for Vietnam.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications he has received from the International Control Commission about events in South Vietnam.

Mr. M. Stewart

I have received a report dated 13th February from the International Control Commission about recent events in Vietnam. It consists of a majority report from the Indian and Polish Commissioners, a minority statement from the Canadian Commissioner and a number of appendices. In accordance with precedent I have proposed to the Soviet Government that the Co-Chairmen should circulate the documents to all members of the 1954 Geneva Conference and should publish them as soon as possible thereafter.