§ 20. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports he has received from the International 886 Control Commission concerning the invasion of Laos by North Vietnamese regular fighting units; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe last report I received from the International Control Commission on the presence of North Vietnamese troops in Laos was Message No. 35 of 16th September, 1965. A copy of this report was placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 16th December.
§ Lady TweedsmuirDid the Prime Minister make any representations to Mr. Kosygin on his recent visit in his capacity as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference, and, if so, would the right hon. Gentleman say what effect those representations had?
§ Mr. StewartAs the noble Lady knows, the talks are confidential. The whole matter of the Commission and South-East Asia came into those conversations.
§ Mr. SoamesWhile appreciating the confidential nature of the talks, would the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is satisfied with their outcome?
§ Mr. StewartThe right hon. Gentleman must try to understand that this is a continuing process; that it is often wise to continue talks even when one knows that the problem under discussion will take a long time to solve.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerWould the right hon. Gentleman say whether there was any increase or decrease in the number of troops moving up the Ho Chi Minh trail when the bombing was stopped?
§ Mr. StewartNo, Sir.