HC Deb 19 December 1960 vol 632 cc881-4
42. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the increasingly disturbed situation in Laos, he will now invite the Soviet co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference to join with him in reconvening a meeting of the Geneva Conference.

45. Mr. Healey

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the present situation in Laos, he will take steps as co-Chairman to reconvene the Geneva Conference on Indo-China.

53. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will bring the situation in Laos, where Soviet arms are being supplied to the Government and United States arms to right-wing insurgents, to the attention of the United Nations Security Council under Article 34 of the Charter, as a circumstance affecting the good relations between States on which peace depends.

57. Mr. Swingler

asked the Lord Privy Seal by what means he intends to satisfy himself that there is no hope of the Laotians settling their problems on their own before taking international action as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference on South-East Asia.

61. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reply he has sent to the communication from Mr. Nehru proposing the re-summoning of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos.

Mr. Heath

My noble Friend is considering whether the vital task of restoration of law and order in Laos would be hastened by the return of the International Control Commission as Mr. Nehru has suggested. The Commission could only function, however, if it received co-operation from both the Government and the rebels. As a first step, therefore, he has instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador in Vientiane to inquire whether the provisional Administration which Prince Boun Oum has formed on the invitation of the King of Laos following the withdrawal of confidence from Prince Souvanna Phouma by the Laotian Parliament, would accept the return of the Commission. If the Government's reply is favourable he will approach the Soviet Government, to whom he has already expressed his serious concern at the situation. Meantime, my noble Friend is not contemplating any other action in the international field.

It has always been the policy of Her Majesty's Government to try to encourage the formation of a Laotian Government of national unity, and Her Majesty's Ambassador in Vientiane has been instructed to make strong representations that early steps should be taken to form a broadly-based Government and include in it all those who are willing to co-operate.

Mr. Warbey

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is still the aim of the British Government, as has been stated before, to achieve the establishment of a Government which is dedicated to a neutralist policy in Laos and that Laos should remain neutral as well as independent? Secondly, in view of the very serious deterioration in the situation in Laos—while welcoming the belated action of the Government in suggesting the recalling of the International Commission—may I ask if it is not time to go beyond that and re-summon the Geneva Conference itself in order to discuss the whole situation?

Mr. Heath

The aim of Her Majesty's Government is, as I have said, to see there a broadly-based Government whose position will be that defined by the Geneva Protocols. As to the last part of the supplementary question, I think it would be better first to see what happens on the steps which my noble Friend is taking.

Mr. Healey

May we take it from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman that Her Majesty's Government have no intention whatever, as has been reported in the Press, of recognising the rebel Government in Laos? In the second place, can the right hon. Gentleman say if he will consider consulting the Soviet Government, which is co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, in view of the obvious and very wide international implications which the present conflict in Laos already has?

Mr. Heath

Recognition goes to the king as head of the régime and there has been no change in Laos in that. It will be a question of working with the established Government, which is a provisional Government. I said that if the reply is favourable about the Control Commission my noble Friend will approach the Soviet Government.

Mr. Zilliacus

In view of the fact that American supplies of arms and money to the right-wing insurgents have led to their overthrowing the neutralist Government and starting a civil war, will not the right hon. Member protest to the American Government and make it clear that in no circumstances will this country be involved in hostilities in the Far East? Will he not bring the whole matter before the United Nations as a threat to international peace?

Mr. Heath

The way which I have described is, I think, the best way of handling it. American supplies were sent to Prince Souvanna Phouma's Government until 29th November, at his request. When he asked them no longer to supply such arms, they ceased.

Mr. Swingler

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that last Wednesday he described the Government's policy, in an Answer to me, as seeking the establishment of a neutral and independent Laos? May we have that confirmed? In view of the fact that the Geneva Conference decisions, not only on Laos but on Vietnam, have again and again been flouted over the years, surely it is time to seek the reconvening of this Conference to survey the whole situation?

Mr. Heath

I have described the Government's object as the status which is covered by the Geneva Protocols, and I think that that is the best way of describing it. As for the suggestion of reconvening the Geneva Conference, it is better, first, that the initiative which my noble Friend is taking should be completed. The reason that the Commission was not able to implement its terms of reference is that it did not receive co-operation from the rebels.

Mr. Pavitt

In view of the highly inflammable nature of this conflict, will the right hon. Gentleman treat this as a matter of extreme urgency and expedite any further communications made in accordance with his first Answer?

Mr. Heath

It is very difficult to expedite replies from people to whom one has written.

Mr. Gaitskell

Do the Government accept their special responsibility in this matter, in view of their position as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference? Secondly, would it not be wise to approach the other Chairman, namely, the Soviet Government, before going any further in this matter? What will be the position if the existing rebel Government decline the proposals put forward? Are we then to assume that the Government will wash their hands of the whole thing?

Mr. Heath

The answer to the last part of the supplementary question is, "No". Her Majesty's Government have no special formal position now, following the Geneva Conference and the documents which emerged from it, but, naturally, we have a particular interest in it because of the part which we played in that conference and of our position as joint-Chairman of the Conference. My noble Friend is already in contact with the Soviet Government. He has expressed to them his anxieties about the situation and has also made a request that the supply of arms to those who are the rebels should cease.