§ 21. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions were taken at the recent South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Conference concerning the use of Commonwealth forces stationed in Malaya for the purposes of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation; and what representations he has received from the Government of the Federated Malay States on these decisions.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo such decisions were reached and no representations have been made by the Malayan Government.
§ Mr. DaviesI welcome that reply. May I ask the Minister to assure the House that the British Government at least will take no lead in introducing nuclear or atomic weapons into South-East Asia?
§ Mr. LloydThat is a different question. I do not know of any plan to do anything of the sort. I have answered the Question that is on the Order Paper. If the hon. Gentleman puts down another Question I will try to answer it.
§ Mr. DaviesWhile agreeing that at this juncture there may not be any such plan, may 1 say that there are rumours in influential quarters in South-East Asia that this idea exists and that pressure is being brought on Laos to join S.E.A.T.0.—[HON. MEMBERS: " Question.") —and this can—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member seems to be making a number of statements. I have not yet heard his question.
§ Mr. LloydIf I am correct in detecting a question in the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's observations, I would reply that there is no question at all of any pressure being brought to bear on Laos to join S.E.A.T.O. at the present time.