§ 127. Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent Asian countries outside the Commonwealth are now associated with the Colombo Plan.
§ Mr. YoungerI have been asked to reply. The Governments of Burma, Siam, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines have all been invited by the Commonwealth Governments who initiated the Colombo Plan to join the Consultative Committee for Economic Development in South and South-East Asia. The Government of Laos has accepted this invitation. Early formal acceptances are expected from the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia, who are regarded as members of the Committee on the basis of informal indication of their desire to participate. The other Governments I have mentioned have not as yet indicated whether they will become members of the Committee, though they all sent observers to its last meeting.