HL Deb 08 July 1958 vol 210 cc685-6
VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they would make a statement concerning the present frontier difficulties in Cambodia; and the progress of re-unification of Vietnam as contemplated in the Geneva Accords.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are informed that there have recently been certain incidents on the Vietnamese—Cambodian frontier which have led to friction between the two Governments. Owing to the difficulty of the terrain of the frontier area in question and to the inadequacy of communications, particularly in the monsoon season, the available facts are too sketchy to enable me to make a statement to your Lordships on the situation. Her Majesty's Government trust that the differences will be settled amicably by the Governments concerned. With regard to the reunification of Vietnam, there has been no change of any importance in the situation since I answered a previous Question on the subject from the noble Viscount on June 25 last year.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

May I, with the leave of the Leader of the House, ask two supplementary questions? One is: is it not true that we are a party to promising Cambodia protection under the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty? Secondly, are we not also pledged, so far as we are concerned, to elections (it was as early as 1956, at first) and the reunification of Vietnam? Is not that a pledge our delegates gave at the Geneva Conference?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

I think that is perfectly correct.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

If we gave the pledges, is the noble Earl indifferent as to whether we fulfil them?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

That is with the agreement of the two parties concerned.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

The two parties concerned were ourselves and the then delegates at Geneva. They were all agreed. Why are the promises not kept?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

The two parties to which I refer are the two portions of the country concerned, and both have got to agree to the taking place of these elections.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, again with the leave of the noble Earl the Leader of the House, may I ask the noble Earl, Lord Gosford, to read the Geneva Accords, and he will see that his answer is entirely inaccurate?