HL Deb 19 October 1972 vol 335 cc2003-4
LORD BROCKWAY

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 they will use their good offices as Chairman of the Geneva Conference on Indo-China to resolve the dispute between the International Control Commission for Vietnam and the Saigon Administration which has led the Commission to transfer its headquarters to Hanoi.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, neither Her Majesty's Government nor the international Control Commission consider that there has been any dispute between the Commission and the Government of the Republic of Vietnam. The dispute to which the noble Lord is referring is no doubt that between the Government of India and the Government of the Republic of Vietnam. This arose following a decision of the Government of India in January, 1972, to raise the status of its representation in Hanoi to that of an Embassy.

The International Control Commission has made the internal administrative change of moving its headquarters to Hanoi. But the International Control Commission continues to be represented in both Saigon and Hanoi. We have not intervened in this bilateral dispute since neither the juridical basis nor the practical effectiveness of the International Control Commission's work are affected by the move.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in thanking the Minister for that very full reply, may I ask him whether he would agree that the International Commission in its earlier years did very effective work but later was ignored—even boycotted? Is it not the case that, despite what he has said, the change from Saigon to Hanoi has been the result of the Saigon Government's refusal to extend the visas of the Indian delegation on the Commission which has compelled them to leave.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, that may well be so; but the dispute, as I say, is between the Government of India and the Government of the Republic of Vietnam in this matter. I quite agree with what the noble Lord says that the Control Commission in its early days was more effective than it is now, but we still hope it has a useful part to play.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, would the noble Marquess, after that full Answer, endeavour to have placed in our Library a complete, bound volume of all the reports of the International Control Commission because, without prejudice, just to read it would make some people come to conclusions different from those they have reached already. I should not like to prejudice my question, but I believe that it would be worth while doing that.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I will certainly look into the matter raised by the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Leek.

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