HC Deb 28 March 1961 vol 637 cc1131-2
40. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite Prince Souvannah Phouma to meet him during his visit to London.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will not be in the country at the time of Prince Souvannah Phouma's visit, I shall invite the Prince to call upon me. My noble Friend the Foreign Secretary expects to be back from the S.E.A.T.O. meeting in Bangkok in time to see the Prince, and arrangements are being made for him to discuss Laotian affairs with other senior Ministers and officials concerned.

Mr. Healey

While welcoming the fact that the Government are arranging for Prince Souvannah Phouma to see the best Prime Minister we have got, may I say that we on this side of the House will welcome any step which is taken to reinforce the unique standing of Prince Souvannah Phouma as the one man who has a chance of uniting the Laotian people around him?

Mr. Butler

We realise that the Prince is in a special position to be able to act as a link between the two opposite sides in Laos. It is part of our main desire to take the opportunity to help to promote a settlement. We shall naturally look forward to our conversations.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Prince is coming, how long he is staying and whether the right hon. Gentleman expects that we shall have received a reply from the Soviet Government before the Prince arrives?

Mr. Butler

I cannot give a date for the reply from the Soviet Government, which we are hoping will be as soon as possible. We have no indication of the exact date but we only believe that it will be soon. With regard to the visit of the Prince, he hopes to arrive on Thursday evening and to stay approximately two days, we are so informed.