HL Deb 16 July 1963 vol 252 cc114-5

2.47 p.m.

LORD COLYTON

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in regard to the arrangements for the self-determination of the Papuan inhabitants of West New Guinea under the agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are confident that the Secretary-General has this matter in mind, but they are not aware of any progress since the decision mentioned in the reply that I gave to the noble Lord on May 7.

LORD COLYTON

My Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend. May I take it that this disposes of rumours, and, I think, even reports in the Press, to the effect that the Indonesian Government had torn up the whole agreement?

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, I have not heard any such rumours, and certainly there is no official report to that effect.