HC Deb 27 February 1967 vol 742 cc3-5W
55. Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government have been in consultation with U Thant to suggest an appropriate reciprocal move to Hanoi and the National Liberation Front for the cessation of United States bombing of North Vietnam.

Mr. George Brown

I am confident that Hanoi are aware of what response from them would bring about a cessation of the bombing.

56. Mr. Michael Foot

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what responses he has received since 1st December, 1966, to proposals from Her Majesty's Government to the Government of North Vietnam for convening a peace conference.

Mr. George Brown

There is nothing I can usefully add to what I told the House on 18th January.—[Vol. 739, c.426.]

66. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the official information in his possession about the effect of American Air Force bombing in Hanoi.

105. Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the latest reports he has had from Hanoi on the extent of civilian casualties and civilian damage in North Vietnam resulting from United States bombing attacks.

Mr. George Brown

I have nothing to add to what I told the House on 18th January [Vol. 739, c.425–38] and to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens) on 19th January.…[Vol. 739, c. 126.]

68. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange to send a fully equipped medical and surgical team to Saigon and Hanoi to attend to some of the children who have suffered from severe injuries in the course of the war in Vietnam.

Mr. William Rodgers

I have very great sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's suggestion, but we already have a highly skilled team at the children's hospital in Saigon and we would require a positive request from the North Vietnamese before we could usefully consider sending a similar one to Hanoi.

72. Mr. Hobden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that the Government will, in its discussions on a peaceful settlement in Vietnam, have regard to the need to base the settlement on the 1954 Geneva Agreements.

Mr. William Rodgers

Yes. There is no dispute between the two sides on this point. Both the United States Government and Hanoi have said that a settlement based on the Geneva Agreements would be acceptable to them.

95. Mr. Philip Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the air bases now being constructed in Thailand by British troops will not be used for any military purpose in connection with the Vietnam war by the United States of America, Saigon or South Korean forces or by Thai volunteers.

Mr. William Rodgers

Only one airfield has been built in Thailand by British troops. This airfield, which is now completed, is a gift to the Thai Government and its future use is for them to determine; but as my right hon. Friend told the hon. Gentleman the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 18th January it is not being used for bombing operations against North Vietnam.— [Vol. 739, c.87.]

101. Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has regarding murders of unarmed civilians by the Vietcong; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Rodgers

There is no doubt at all that Vietcong methods include terrorism and murder and that very many innocent civilians, including women and children, have been amongst the victims. The best available figures suggest that over 10,000 civilians were killed and over 31,000 kidnapped between 1962 and 1966 (Vietnamese and allied sources).

119. Mr. Wellbeloved

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any members of the Diplomatic Foreign Service at present in Hanoi were recruited from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield in 1965 and 1966.

Mr. George Thomson

No.

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the presence of the Americans and the allies in Vietnam.

Mr. William Rodgers

We recognise the right of the United States, and of her allies, including those Commonwealth countries involved, to help the Republic of Vietnam, at its request, in defence against attack from the North.