HC Deb 02 March 1959 vol 601 cc31-2
50. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken, as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, to call the attention of the Royal Laotian Government to the messages addressed by the two co-Chairmen on 31st January to the Indian Government and to the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos.

Mr. Profumo

The texts of the two messages in question were conveyed to the Royal Laotian Government.

Mr. Warbey

Has the Minister's attention been called to a leading article in the New York Times of 23rd February in which it is stated that the denunciation of the Geneva Agreements of 1954 by the tiny beleaguered Kingdom of Laos is realistic"? In view of the uncertainty about the position, will the Minister make it clear that the Government consider the Laotian Government still bound by the Geneva Agreements?

Mr. Profumo

The Government's position is that we do not believe that the Laotian Government have repudiated the Geneva Agreements.

51. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has made to the communication sent to him by the Chinese Foreign Minister regarding the attitude of the Royal Laotian Government towards the Geneva agreements and the introduction into Laos of United States arms and military personnel in contravention of those agreements.

Mr. Profumo

No reply has been sent so far.

Mr. Warbey

Will the Minister take into account the undoubted fact that there is substantial American military aid to Laos and that this is probably being done in contravention of the Geneva Agreements? Will he request the Indian Government to reconvene the International Commission for Laos in order that the facts may be investigated and reported?

Mr. Profumo

Nothing has been done in contravention of the Agreements.