HL Deb 18 May 1965 vol 266 cc366-7
LORD KENNET

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what conversations, if any, they have had with friendly Governments about the setting up of a possible North-East Asia Treaty Organisation.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, there have been no such conversations.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, are the Government aware that the Press and radio services of East Asia are full of speculations about the possible development of a defence arrangement between the United States, Japan and South Korea which, whether or not it had the title, "North-East Asia Treaty Organisation'', would in fact be something rather parallel with SEATO, CENTO, and NATO in the world?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I am well aware of such speculations in certain parts of the world; but, as is so often the case with many speculations on the part of the Press, there is, so far as I know, no foundation for them.

LORD KENNET

I thank the noble Lord for his courteous and almost definitive answer. If ever it should happen that Her Majesty's Government are called upon to have an opinion about the desirability of the formation of such a defence arrangement, in carrying out their extremely popular and just policy of seeking a détente and a pacification of that miserable part of the world, will they bear in mind the necessity of not lightly setting up further military organisations which might, indeed, exacerbate the situation there?

LORD WALSTON

I hope that it will set the noble Lord's mind at rest if I assure him that at the present time, at any rate, Her Majesty's Government see no need whatsoever for any such organisation.