§ Ql. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the respective heads of Government of North and South Vietnam to visit the United Kingdom.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I have no plans to do so. President Thieu may, however, be making a short visit here in April, and if he does I expect to meet him.
§ Mr. ArcherWill the right hon. Gentleman seize the opportunity to press the cause of the 200,000 civilian political prisoners of all shades of political opinion, many of whom have no one to plead their cause, and many of whom are too ill to earn a living and have no homes or families to return to? Will he press not merely for their release but for an international rehabilitation operation under the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees?
§ The Prime MinisterThe objects of any talks we might have have not been fixed because it is not yet definite that President Thieu will come. There has been considerable conflict of view about the number of prisoners involved. It was agreed at the Paris conference that this was a matter which should be settled by the two parties in South Vietnam.