§ 44. Mr. Bairdasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the official complaints of the North Vietnam authorities that there were 15 shipments of war materials into South Vietnam from the United States of America in 1955, 82 in 1956 and 109 in 365 1957; and what steps the Control Commission have taken to investigate these charges.
§ Mr. R. AllanUnder Article 17 of the Cease-Fire Agreement, it is the responsibility of the International Commission in Vietnam to control the shipment of arms and war material into Vietnam. In its eight Interim Reports, the Commission has set out the action taken on complaints of violations of this Article.
§ Mr. BairdWill the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Control Commission will be given every facility to visit South Vietnam to see whether or not this Agreement has been broken?
§ Mr. AllanWe cannot give any facilities to the Control Commission. That must be done by the two countries concerned.
§ Mr. BairdBut, surely, the Foreign Secretary is responsible, as Joint Chairman of the Geneva Conference, for the functioning of the Control Commission?