BRITAIN’S ROLE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27643, 27 April 1955, Page 13

BRITAIN’S ROLE

Cease Fire To Be Sought LONDON, April 25. The Foreign Secretary (Mr Harold Macmillan) said today that Britain would continue to use all her influence to bring about a cease fire in the Formosa straits. He was commenting on the statement by Mr Chou En-lai, the Chinese Communist Prime Minister, expressing willingness to talk to the United States about a Formosa settlement. Mr Macmillan said: “The British Government will v continue to use all its influence to bring about a cease fire and to promote an atmosphere within which a peaceful settlement can be approached. “There are, of course, a number of difficulties to be overcome in any such negotiations, including the question of how the parties most directly concerned are to be brought together.” Answering questions in the House of Commons, Mr Macmillan said: “I have now seen reports of a statement "by Mr Chou which suggests a readiness to enter into negotiation. The British Government welcomes any genuine effort to find a peaceful solution to the Formosa question.” Mr Macmillan said that the Priipe Minister (Sir Anthony Eden) had continually sought means to settle the difficult Formosa problem by negotiation rather than force. This had been the prime purpose of his efforts during i r ecent weeks.

Mr Desmond (Labour) asked whether the Foreign Secretary did not agree that the essential first step was to obtain a clarification in Peking of what Mr Chou’s statement meant.

Mr Macmillan replied: “I will consider that. It is a very good and useful suggestion.” Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) asked the Foreign Secretary to impress on the United States the importance of the proposed conference and to urge the Peking Government to make its contribution by freeing the American prisoners held in Communist China.

Mr Macmillan replied: “All these matters are relevant. We have not come to the stage of a conference yet. We have to get everybody in a state of mind favourable to a conference.”