HC Deb 23 February 1959 vol 600 cc813-4
50. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as co-chairman of the Geneva Conference, he will request the International Supervisory Commission to make a special investigation into the circumstances leading to the sudden death or serious illness of a large proportion of the 6,000 political prisoners at the Phu Loi Political Retraining Centre in South Vietnam.

52. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken under Article 14 (c) of the Geneva Agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam concerning the alleged poisoning of 1,000 detainees in Phuloi camp in South Vietnam in December, 1958.

Mr. R. Allan

As I informed the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Baird) on 18th February, I understand that the North Vietnamese complaint on this matter is being considered by the International Commission.

Mr. Warbey

In view of the fact that the South Vietnam Government have not denied that something of an extremely serious character is taking place at this concentration camp, will the hon. Member ask the Foreign Secretary to call for a special report in this case and make it available to this House as soon as it is ready, rather than wait for the long period before we get the annual report of the International Commission?

Mr. Allan

In the first place, my right hon. and learned Friend would have no authority to call for a special report. The matter is now being investigated. Let us leave it at that.

Mr. Swingler

Is it not a fact that Her Majesty's Government have diplomatic representations in South Vietnam? Why is it that the Government are not able to get from these diplomatic representatives definite information about this matter?

Mr. Allan

The matter is being investigated. I do not know whether the hon. Member has seen a statement by the Director of the Phu Loi Centre in a communiqué issued on 30th January. In that he said that, although there were a few cases of simulated gastric trouble, there were no cases of genuine food poisoning.