HC Deb 21 March 1955 vol 538 cc1734-5
37. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Governments and authorities are parties to the final declaration of the Geneva Conference on the problem of restoring peace in Indo-China.

Mr. Nutting

The final declaration of the Geneva Conference is not a treaty or signed agreement, but is in the nature of a resolution by the conference as a whole. There are no parties to it in the strict sense. The respective attitudes of the members of the Geneva Conference towards the declaration, as stated at the final session, are set out in Command 9239.

Mr. Warbey

Regardless of the question whether or not this is a treaty, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether Her Majesty's Government stand by the terms of that declaration and intend to uphold them?

Mr. Nutting

Yes. Her Majesty's Government not only stand by the terms of that declaration but have entered into the Manila Treaty in order to support them.