HC Deb 18 July 1962 vol 663 cc424-5
11. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will propose to the Geneva Conference on Laos the withdrawal of all foreign troops from this theatre of operations.

Mr. P. Thomas

No, Sir. The Geneva Agreement already provides for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Laos.

Mr. Dempsey

Will the Minister state how soon it will be before he expects this agreement to be implemented? Does he not realise that the moment is more conducive now than at any other time since obtaining the cease-fire, and does not he also appreciate that the longer we delay implementing such an agreement the more we reap distrust and foster suspicion? Speed should be the watchword of our action in bringing about the withdrawal of all these foreign troops.

Mr. Thomas

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The conference in Geneva has made very steady progress and I hope that an agreement will be reached and signed before very long.

18. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, following the establishment of a neutral coalition Government in Laos, he will now order the withdrawal of the British forces in Thailand.

26. Mr. Brockway

asked the Lord Privy Seal if British troops will be withdrawn from Thailand in view of the formation of a neutralist Government in Laos.

Mr. P. Thomas

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on this subject on 27th June.

Mr. Warbey

As it is now clear that any threat to Thailand from Laos, if it ever existed, has completely disappeared, does not the continued retention of British forces in Thailand lend colour to the suspicions that they are really there in order to support American military intervention in other parts of South-East Asia?

Mr. Thomas

No, Sir. The reason for our token forces being sent there was fully explained to the House in particular during the foreign affairs debate on 24th May. The coalition Government in Laos has been in existence only for a very short time, the agreement at Geneva has not yet been signed and we must wait a little and see how circumstances develop.

Mr. Brockway

But was it not the explanation that there was a danger that Communist forces in Laos might menace the invasion of Thailand? Does the hon. Gentleman really say that that danger still exists, when a neutralist Government has been formed in Laos and any separate Communist military forces have been entirely obliterated?

Mr. Thomas

No. I say that the Coalition Government has been in existence only a very short time and that we must wait and see what develops.