§ 55. Mr. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that all those who wish to leave North Vietnam under the Geneva Agreement before 19th May will be able to do so; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI fear I have nothing to add to the reply given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) and my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. H. Fraser). We are watching the situation with some concern. We have now received the Report of the Commission, which we are studying closely. The Report will be published as soon as practicable, but the date for this must be agreed with the Soviet Government in the first instance.
§ Mr. RussellIs my right hon. Friend aware that according to some reports there are still 400,000 people who live in North Vietnam and who want to move to South Vietnam before 19th May? Can he say what will happen if they are unable to do so by the time the boundaries change?
§ Mr. MacmillanYes, Sir. We are, of course, anxious to do everything we can. I am told that about one million people have moved. If there is any method of extending the time limit we shall be the first to try to achieve it.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesCould the right hon. Gentleman, before the House dissolves, assure the House that we shall not be involved under the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation in any of these internal problems in this part of French Indo-China?
§ Mr. MacmillanOur sole interest is to carry out loyally the terms of the Geneva Agreement.