HL Deb 23 October 1975 vol 364 cc1602-3

3.15 p.m.

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 what conclusions were reached at the conference of SEATO representatives at New York on 24th September.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, the SEATO Council members agreed that in view of the changing circumstances the Organisation should be phased out in an orderly and systematic manner over two years. Accordingly, the Secretary-General was instructed to prepare a detailed plan for the phasing-out process.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, in thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that many of us will be glad to contribute to the obituary of SEATO? Is it not the case that it has been moribund for many years? May I further ask my noble friend whether he could add to his reply by saying that, if this gathering were to decide to continue the Treaty, aid would be maintained under the Treaty?

Lord GORONIATY-ROBERTS

My Lords, there has been no decision to terminate the Treaty. I would not accept the view of my noble friend that this Organisation has been moribund for many years. I hope he will agree that for 20 or 21 years the Organisation, in the view of its regional members as well as in the view of this country and of the United States, has made a very great contribution to stability and economic development in this area.

Several Noble Lords

Hear, hear!

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, would the noble Lord tell us what there is to phase out? Contrary to what he has said, certainly my impression was that this Organisation was a nonstarter from the beginning and has never done anything.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, apart from the last part of my noble friend's interjection, I would refer him to the Answer I have already given to my noble friend Lord Brockway. On the point of what should be phased out, there are certain aspects of the Organisation's work which the regional members do not think are now apposite. There are, however—and I am glad to say this to your Lordships'House—certain other continuing and very useful functions of the Organisation which the Secretary-General has been instructed to continue in one way or another.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, in view of his reference to the regional organisations concerned, may I ask the noble Lord the Minister whether it is a fact that the only South-Eastern nations involved were Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines, and that even Pakistan withdrew? May I also ask him if he would reply to my question as to whether aid is to be continued under the Treaty?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I thought I had said that there had been no decision to terminate the Treaty. I repeat that statement. As to the membership of this Organisation, the regional members, as we call them, are of course Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom.