§ Q22. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister what official advice he gave to Her Majesty on the reply she should send to President Ho Chi Minh's recent communication concerning the war in Vietnam; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty was advised that a formal reply should not be sent. But the object of the discussion which my noble Friend the Minister of State with special responsibility for disarmament had with the North Vietnamese chargé d'Affaires in Moscow on 23rd February was to clarify certain points in the message. As my noble Friend pointed out at the time, President Ho Chi Minh could have no better evidence of our willingness to take his message seriously.