HL Deb 14 December 1967 vol 287 cc1246-8

3.14 p.m.

LORD ROWLEY

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 whether any request has been received from the Governments of Canada, India and Poland, constituting the Vietnam International Commission, for a reconvening of the 1954 Geneva Conference.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

No, my Lords.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government share the view officially expressed by the Soviet Government last Sunday: that the agreements which issued from the 1954 Geneva Conference are still valid? If that be so, could not a cease-fire be arranged almost within a matter of days if only the Soviet Government would co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in reconvening that 1954 Geneva Conference?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am very much in sympathy with the spirit of my noble friend's question. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has invited the Soviet co-Chairman on numerous occasions to join him in reconvening the Geneva Conference. This invitation still stands, and my right honourable friend will be ready to act immediately if the Soviet co-Chairman will take up the offer. Unfortunately, Mr. Gromyko has not done so.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is it not the case that the International Commission, representing India, Poland and Canada, were required to implement the decisions of the Geneva Conference? And in view of that fact, is it not desirable, in addition to making approaches to the Soviet Government as co-Chairman, to ask this Commission to make the proposal for a reconvening of the Geneva Conference?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we are always ready to take any initiative in co-operation with any of the Governments concerned if there should be any chance of bringing peace to Vietnam. It seems to us that the context of the Geneva Conference is one of the ways of doing this, but as I say, the Soviet co-Chairman refuses to respond to any invitation to reconvene this Conference. I am not sure that the particular procedure outlined by my noble friend would have a much better chance of leading to the peace that we all desire in Vietnam.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is satisfied that it is not possible for one of the co-Chairmen to sound all the other member Governments of the Conference with a view to issuing invitations to a Conference, even if one or more of the Governments decline to attend?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the position is that the Conference can be reconvened only by agreement between the co-Chairmen. However, I see no reason why soundings of the sort outlined by my noble friend should not take place; and, as I say, we will take every opportunity we can to further the cause of peace in Vietnam. I would, however, point out that to reconvene the Geneva Conference and not have the Soviet Union represented there would not be a major step forward.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he will very seriously consider this approach? Is it not the fact that the Commission, representing Canada, India and Poland, were given the duty of implementing the Geneva Conference decisions? In view of that fact, despite the attitude of Soviet Russia, would it not be possible to take the initiative of consulting the international Commission with a view to securing a reconvening of the Conference?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course I can give my noble friend an assurance that we will take his proposal very seriously indeed, and will look into the possibilities of making some progress in this way. I can only say that, from my experience of attempts to do this in past years, through the machinery of the I.C.C. and through all other machineries, I cannot be very optimistic of the chances of success. But I repeat that we certainly take the suggestion very seriously and will follow it up.

LORD BROCKWAY

I thank the noble Lord.