§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the British Mission in Saigon is safe in the light of the current situation in South Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Fordasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he is satisfied that those British nationals engaged in relief work and the care of war orphans in South Vietnam are safe from danger; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the position of British nationals in South Vietnam.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleHer Majesty's Government and the British Embassy at Saigon are watching developments in the situation in Vietnam very closely, with particular reference to the safety of British nationals. As far as is known there are none living in areas where ground fighting is taking place, but some are in towns subject to sporadic artillery16W attacks by Communist forces. Among the latter are the Save the Children Fund team at Qui Nhon. The British Embassy, which is in touch with the team by telephone, reports that they are safe and in good heart. The majority of other British nationals in Vietnam are in Saigon, where in spite of a recent rocket attack on the outskirts conditions are more or less normal. There is no immediate threat to British Embassy staff.
Her Majesty's Government regret that a British civilian working for an American company was killed a few days ago in a Communist ambush in a remote country area some 200 miles north of Saigon. Next of kin are being informed. There are no other reports of damage to British lives or property.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will send relief supplies to the victims of the invasion of the Republic of Vietnam.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleHer Majesty's Government are giving £10,000 for the provision of emergency relief supplies for the victims of the invasion. Parliament will be asked if necessary to approve a Supplementary Estimate in due course. In the meantime an advance will, if necessary, be sought from the Contingencies Fund.
It is hoped that the supplies will be delivered to Saigon by a Royal Air Force aircraft.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now protest to the North Vietnam Government at the invasion of South Vietnam by North Vietnam regular troops in breach of the Geneva Agreement.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the position in Indo-China, in the light of his responsibilities as Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleHer Majesty's Government's policy is still to help promote a negotiated settlement of the Vietnam war, either in the context of the 17W Geneva Agreement or in any other way. They greatly regret that the North Vietnamese should have decided to intensify the fighting by the flagrant invasion of South Vietnam, rather than to agree to take part in serious negotiations without preconditions.
President Nixon made it abundantly clear in a number of public statements that he would use United States air power as he thought appropriate if the North Vietnamese increased their military activity in the South while American ground forces were being withdrawn. As North Vietnam decided to ignore these warnings, the American reaction is understandable.
As Geneva Co-Chairman, Her Majesty's Government have informed the Russian Government that in their view the Geneva Conference should be reconvened. The Russians have not so far responded, but Her Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow, who is seeing Mr. Gromyko tomorrow, has been instructed to reiterate our views.
Her Majesty's Government cannot protest directly to the North Vietnamese authorities about their invasion of South Vietnam because Britain does not have diplomatic relations with North Vietnam. Nevertheless, it is known from North Vietnamese Press and wireless statements that the North Vietnamese authorities are aware of Her Majesty's Government's position.