§ 2.41 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 decision has been reached on the proposal of the International Control Commission that an international conference on the basis of the Geneva Con 770 ference of 1954 should be convened to consider the questions of Cambodia's neutrality and territorial integrity.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, the position of Her Majesty's Government remains as set out in the White Paper on this subject published in June. Whenever the Soviet Co-Chairman and other Governments concerned favour this course, Her Majesty's Government will be happy to join in promoting such a conference, but the obstacles described in the White Paper make this unlikely in the near future.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether any approach has been made to the Soviet Government since this recommendation was published? Do the Government bear in mind that it is a unanimous recommendation by Canada, India and Poland; that they point out that on eight occasions troops of the Saigon Government have violated Cambodian territory, and add these grave words:
The recurrence of such serious incidents may even cause armed conflict.In view of this, is it not urgent that something should be done in the matter?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, the Co-Chairman, the Soviet Government, are well aware of Her Majesty's Government's readiness to join with them in issuing an invitation to a conference on the lines which were originally suggested by the Soviet Government themselves; but, so far, we have had no favourable response from them.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I put one further supplementary? Whilst such a conference would concentrate upon the dangerous situation in Cambodia, might it not also be useful if, outside the conference, there were an opportunity for some discussion between the Governments concerned about peace in Vietnam itself?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, the noble Lord has put his finger on the heart of the problem. These incidents have arisen, and will, I am afraid, continue to arise, so long as there is fighting in Vietnam. We should hope that any opportunity would be taken to bring people together to discuss this. But in so far as 771 there is any chance of there being a conference on Cambodia itself, the Cambodian Government has made it very clear that it cannot be used as a back-door excuse for a wider conference on possibly very important issues.