§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current policy of the British Government, as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, in view of the escalation of the war in Vietnam.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThe policy of Her Majesty's Government on Vietnam is unchanged. We wish to see a negotiated42W Convention begin in 1973 and a new convention is due to come into force in 1975.
The Government of Mauritius has expressed its wish to become a party to the current Yaoundé Convention. None of the others has yet expressed a view on the options open to them.
Malta already has an association agreement with the European Economic Community and Cyprus is currently negotiating one.
A schedule of United Kingdom trade with all Commonwealth countries in 1970 together with the latest available population figures for each of them is given below:
settlement that would take account of the interests of all parties concerned. As Geneva Co-Chairman we are ready at any time to help promote such a settlement. Action under the Geneva machinery is not possible, however, without the cooperation of the Soviet Co-Chairman. In spite of repeated approaches by this Government (and by its predecessor), this has not so far been forthcoming.
43WWe are also ready to take any opportunities to help restore peace that may occur outside the Geneva context. A new peace initiative could only hope to succeed, however, if it were acceptable to all the parties principally concerned. Unfortunately, we have no evidence that such conditions exist at present.
The parties directly involved have now been in contact at the Paris peace talks for well over two years. We believe that a settlement could be reached there if the Communists were to respond to the numerous American and South Vietnamese appeals for serious negotiations. The Communists' continuing refusal to enter into such negotiations unless their principal demands are met in advance is, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, the main reason for the prolongation of this tragic war.
In the face of Communist refusal to negotiate without preconditions, President Nixon is continuing with his alternative policy of phased troop withdrawals. He has made it plain that if during this period the Communists step up the level of activity so as to threaten the remaining American troops, he will take appropriate counter-action. American withdrawal is being carried out in step with South Vietnam's increasing capacity to ensure her own defence against external aggression and internal subversion. So long as a negotiated settlement remains unattainable, this alternative policy has the support of Her Majesty's Government.