Entry Visas (Vietnamese National Liberation Front)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 April 1967.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Frank Allaun Mr Frank Allaun , Salford East 12:00, 27 April 1967

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests he has received to admit to the United Kingdom a spokesman for the Vietnamese National Liberation Front; and what reply he has sent to the one made on 8th March.

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

Four, during the past six months.

I assume the second part of the Question refers to a letter dated 7th March from the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. I have informed the Foundation that, for the reasons given in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 9th March, I am not prepared to grant the visas requested.

Photo of Mr Frank Allaun Mr Frank Allaun , Salford East

Is this fair? Whatever the Foreign Secretary may feel, does the Home Secretary realise that he is undermining his good and liberal reputation by refusing free speech and free entry in this way?

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

As a member of the Government, my duty is to endeavour in every possible way to help the efforts of the Government to bring this war to an end at the earliest possible time.

Photo of Mr Michael Foot Mr Michael Foot , Ebbw Vale

How can it possibly injure the Government's case in this matter if spokesmen for the National Liberation Front are able to put their case here, as they can elsewhere? If it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government, as it is, that representatives of the National Liberation Front should come to a conference, why should they not come to England?

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

Because coming to a conference would be to endeavour to get peace, and coming to England would be for a different purpose.

Photo of Mr Cyril Osborne Mr Cyril Osborne , Louth Borough

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree to this request on a reciprocal basis so that the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Private Secretary, who has been refused a hearing in Hanoi, may have one and have the same opportunity to express our opinion there as they want to have to express theirs here?

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

That might be rather complicated to arrange.