asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, following U Thant's visit to London, he will make a statement about the rôle of the United Nations in promoting a peace settlement in Vietnam.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Vietnam with U Thant when he visited London but: they had regretfully to conclude that there is little prospect of negotiations in the immediate future. The North Vietnamese have constantly asserted that the United Nations have no rôle to play in the conflict. The North Vietnamese Prime Minister repeated this publicly last month.