HC Deb 29 May 1963 vol 678 cc1296-7
9. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the fact that the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation communiqué issued by the United States Information Service of the American Embassy in London on Thursday, 11th April, is the only published information on the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Council's eighth meeting in Paris from 8th to 10th April, he will make available to Parliament more detailed information about these meetings.

Mr. P. Thomas

No, Sir. The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation communiqué contains all the information on the confidential proceedings that those participating agreed to release.

Mr. Davies

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that hon. Members on both sides of the House deprecate the growing tendency of the Executive to give less and less information to Parliament about these fundamental treaties and other facts? Will he please now tell the House whether a new convention has arisen that no information is given to hon. Members unless they ask for it? Can he say what is the meaning of the bilateral treaty between Siam and the United States of 6th March in relation to the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty, because of the new doctrine of flexibility in S.E.A.T.O.?

Mr. Thomas

Her Majesty's Government have undertaken no new commitments to S.E.A.T.O. In reply to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, it is, of course, traditional that the proceedings at meetings of this sort, which are confidential, should not be disclosed beyond the communiqué which is released.

Mr. Davies

But is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that the new doctrine of flexibility reads that …action does not depend on the prior agreement of all parties to the Treaty since"—

Mr. Speaker

Order. A verbatim quotation is out of order at Question Time.

Mr. Davies

I apologise, Mr. Speaker. This Treaty does not necessarily need the united acquiescence of the rest of the signatories; in other words, there is bilateral power to take action.

Mr. Thomas

Positive acceptance of any proposal is still necessary for any commitment.