§ 40. Mr. Healeyasked the Prime Minister if he will publish his reply to the official proposals from Prince Norodom Sihanouk concerning the situation in Laos.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)As the hon. Member will have seen, my correspondence with Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia was circulated by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HealeyWhile I agree with the Prime Minister's statement in that reply that the first need is to stop the fighting and that the return of the International Commission might assist in this, would not the Prime Minister agree that it is now very doubtful whether the International Commission will be able to return and if it does, that it will be able to settle the Laos problem in general? In view of the fact that the Prime Minister himself admits that it will take time to get an international conference in being, would it not be wise now to take steps to call an international conference?
§ The Prime MinisterWe still feel—and we are negotiating to that end with all concerned—that the first thing to do, if possible, is to restore peace or, at least, to get a cease-fire by the return of the International Commission. That does not, of course, preclude other steps as well.