HC Deb 26 November 1958 vol 596 cc340-1
5 and 6. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware of the International Commission's decision to authorise South Vietnam to replace armaments taken away by the French Union troops during their withdrawal from South Vietnam; and to what extent, as co-Chairman of the Commission. his approval was sought arid given;

(2) what replacement of weapons or troops there has been in South Vietnam since the withdrawal of the French forces after the Geneva Agreement.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I am aware of the International Commission's decision, about which the Chairman made a report on 7th June, 1958. The decision was one which the Commission itself was entirely competent to take, and my right hon. and learned Friend's views were not sought. As far as the replacement of troops and arms is concerned, it is the responsibility of the International Commission in Vietnam to control this under Articles 16 and 17 of the Geneva Agreement. In its eight Interim Reports the Commission has set out very fully what has been done in this sphere. These reports have all been laid before Parliament.

Mr. Davies

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that informed Members of the House are fully aware of the stereo-typed answer that has been given? Is he also aware that there have been over 1.400 incidents in South Vietnam that have been reported, that the Eighth Report now says that there is a complete—to use the word of the Report—lacuna in the implementation of the Geneva Agreement, and that this part of the world is brought into the deadly activities of the cold war to serve the purposes of Western strategy, rather than the peaceful unity of these delightful people of North and South Indo-China?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

These reports, as the hon. Gentleman says, are there for all to read, and hon. Members can draw their own deductions.

Mr. Davies

This is a danger area.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I may add that none of the contraventions in South Vietnam has been on a large scale. For example, the only firm contravention recorded in the latest Report of the Commission relates to eleven boxes of field artillery parts and some machine-gun parts.