§ 37. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why instructions have been given to British diplomatic missions in the Far East no longer 2202 to honour Indonesian Republican passports.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)The hon. Member has, I think, misunderstood the position. There is no question of a change of policy or attitude. The only instructions issued to His Majesty's Representatives abroad relate to the affixing of British visas to passports issued by the Republican authorities. As a result of a review of the situation created by the Renville Agreement, His Majesty's Government decided that it was inappropriate for British visas to be affixed to these passports, since they are not internationally recognised travel documents. There is no question of seeking in any way to restrict the travel of Indonesians by these arrangements.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsHas my right hon. Friend borne in mind, in discontinuing the practice of recognising Indonesian passports, that the latest conduct of the Dutch in unilaterally breaking off relations and in their endless procrastination is being condemned by all three members of the Security Council's Commission now in—
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a question of the Dutch. It is a question of honouring Indonesian passports. That is the Question and it is that to which the hon. Member must apply his mind.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsOn a point of Order. I was seeking to get the Foreign Secretary to apply his mind to giving the House reasons for our failure to give recognition to these passports. Might I complete my Question?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is no use making charges against another country.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsOn a point of Order. Might I not draw attention to the fact that the Security Council's good-will Commission, now in Batavia, have used certain phrases about the Dutch?
§ Mr. Walter FletcherWould it be much use taking these passports down to Victoria?