§ 3.42 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I now ask the Private Notice Question which I mentioned earlier this afternoon?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, the Question, as the House knows, is about the possibility of British troops being sent to Thailand. Her Majesty's Government have naturally been in close consultation with the United States Government and other Governments of member States of the SEATO Alliance, including Australia and New Zealand, about the situation in South East Asia. As regards Laos, there has been no radical change since my statement on May 15 in this House. Her Majesty's Government are still continuing their efforts to assist in the formation of a Coalition Government in that country. The United States 758 Government, for their part, are exercising their influence in the same direction.
As noble Lords know, in response to a request from the Government of Thailand, the United States Government have declared their willingness to send armed forces to Thailand to assist that country against any threat of aggression which may develop. Her Majesty's Government have so far received no formal request for assistance from the Government of Thailand, hut they have decided that in the event of such a request being received in the next few days to preserve the inviolability of the territory, they would be prepared to send a contribution. This would probably take the form of fighter units of the Royal Air Force. We understand that if the Thai Government ask the Governments of Australia and New Zealand for assistance, they are also prepared to contribute.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the Foreign Secretary for his statement, and I am very glad to hear from that statement that Her Majesty's Government are still continuing their efforts to assist the formation of a Coalition Government in Laos. We have been in agreement with the Foreign Secretary on that for many months now and I am merely repeating that agreement. May I ask two questions? May I ask whether the Foreign Secretary has received any further communication from the Government of the U.S.S.R. with regard to the efforts which are being made to form this Coalition Government? And may I also ask if there is any news yet as to whether Prince Souvanna Phouma, who I understand is in France, is likely to return to Laos in order to assist in this Coalition Government project?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I saw the Russian Ambassador yesterday, I think it was, and so far I have had no further communication from the Government of the Soviet Union, although I do not necessarily know that I need expect one, because that Government understands our view very well. The House will, I think, have taken note of the statement of the Russian Ambassador in Washington after he had seen Mr. 759 Rusk, when he reaffirmed that Russia wished to preserve the cease-fire in Laos. I profoundly hope that that is so and that Russia is working to that end. The noble Viscount is quite right: we are working overtime to achieve a Government of national unity, and this has been our purpose now for a number of months. As to the second question, I believe that Prince Souvanna Phourna has agreed now to return to Laos, and I hope that his return will be the occasion for the Princes to get together and really, this time, agree firmly on the composition of a National Government.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, could the noble Earl confirm a statement which appears in the newspapers of this morning, that the pro-Communist and the neutralist factions in Laos have intimated their willingness to negotiate for a peaceful settlement without any conditions? I think I am right in saying that hitherto, whether on both sides or on one side, there has been a prior demand that they should have the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior. If these two demands have been waived now, should that not facilitate an agreement, if they can bring the three Princes together?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, it is not unknown in other countries that there are sometimes differences of opinion as to who should fill different offices in a Government, but it is true that in this case the dispute has been as to who should fill the Ministries of Defence and Interior. It has always been hoped that these would be filled by people from what is known as the Central Group. I cannot say to the noble Lord that I am quite certain that the Princes will now go into a meeting with no preconditions, but I hope that this ils so, and certainly as there have been reports to that effect. I think one of the reasons why Prince Souvanna Phouma has decided to go back is because he hopes that there is now a real opportunity of making an agreement.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, I imagine we can take it that if the Government of Thailand do request some assistance from us we shall act in the closest association, co-operation and agreement with the Government of the 760 United States at all stages as to what kind of assistance we send, because it is important that, if this is going to happen, it should be a joint operation.
THE EARL OF HOMECertainly, my Lords. We have been and will remain in the closest consultation; and I have indicated to the House the kind of contribution which I think would be acceptable to the Thai Government, if they wished to have any of our forces in Thailand, and also to the rest of the members of the Alliance.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Earl spoke about consultations with the Commonwealth, in particular with Australia and New Zealand. May we take it that there have been consultations with the Government of Malaya, taking into account the possibility that our air forces would be sent from that area and that we should not wish to do anything to jeopardise the creation of a new Malaysia?
THE EARL OF HOMEOf course, my Lords, the Commonwealth Secretary and our Government are always in touch with the Government of Malaya, and they are in touch on these matters; but the noble Lord must remember that Malaya is not a member of the SEATO Alliance and that, although we are in touch on these matters, this is a matter for those countries who subscribe to the Manila Treaty. In any case, it so happens that the air forces which we may contribute are not, as a matter of fact, in Malaya.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, I wonder whether I might ask the noble Earl just to repeat a part of the statement. I do not know whether I heard it aright. I thought he said that the troops, if going at all, are to resist aggression against "the territory". Was that the phrase? I wondered which territory.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords. we are now concerned with a possible threat to Thailand, and it is the Thai Government which might ask us for assistance. They have already asked the Americans for assistance, and they might ask for assistance from some of their other Allies.
§ LORD KILLEARNThank you very much. That is what I supposed.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, if we took action without being invited, would that not be opposed to United Nations' policy?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, as the noble Baroness will realise, there is no question of our taking action without being invited; of course not. This is Thai territory, and it must be for the Thai Government to issue an invitation before anyone can send assistance.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I say, in view of the statements made by the Foreign Secretary, that we should like to wish the Government every possible success in bringing the negotiations for this Coalition Government into effect? We have noted what has been said in the last part of the statement, that it would be no more than carrying out our obligations under the SEATO Treaty, and I hope that it will not be necessary for us to have to do very much under it.