asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government will make a protest to the US Government about the invasion of Cambodia.
34.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Invasion of Cambodia.
33.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he intends to lodge a note of protest with the US Government following the invasion of Cambodia; and whether he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my statement of 4th May, 1970, copies of which have been placed in the Dáil Library. I have nothing to add to that statement.
May I ask the Minister, in view of the welter of events, what exactly was in that statement?
The statement has been placed in the Library but if the Deputy would like me to read it and if the Ceann Comhairle so wishes. I shall do so.
Can we take it that in his statement the Minister protested to the United States Government about the invasion of Cambodia?
It appeared in the newspapers.
(Interruptions.)
One cannot believe everything that appears in newspapers these days.
Is it the wish of the House that the Minister read the statement?
Deputies
Yes.
This was my immediate comment:
The further extension of the war into Cambodia is a matter of great disappointment and concern to all who have hoped for progress through negotiation towards ending the war in Vietnam. The Government feel that the increased involvement in Cambodia of both sides to the Vietnamese conflict can only hinder the negotiations already in progress, further increase instability in South-East Asia and bring great suffering to the civilian populations concerned.
The Government's views on the achievement of peace in Vietnam and throughout South-East Asia are well known and are based on the firm belief that a lasting peace can come only through negotiation, that it must be guaranteed by the Great Powers involved and, preferably, that it should be in the context of a guaranteed area of law and limited armaments in South-East Asia. The Government deplore any action by any of the parties concerned likely to postpone the achievement of peace.
That was circulated to the press.
May I ask the Minister if his statement has been brought to the attention of the American Government?
The Deputy can be sure that the American Government will have this information available to them.
In the light of the Minister's rather welcome statement on this issue may I ask whether, in view of these developments, the Irish delegation to the United Nations will, in future, take a more critical and independent view than they have taken in the past of American foreign policy and American military commitments overseas?
That is a separate question.
It is a separate question. However, I do not think it is fair to go on with this idea that we have not a separate view from the Americans. In fact, I have no reason whatever to tie myself to the policy of any country other than our own.