§ 74. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish the texts of the recent exchange of Notes with the Soviet Government regarding the implementation of the Geneva Agreements in Laos.
§ Mr. ProfumoDuring the past four months we have received a number of communications on the question of Laos from the Soviet Government, making accusations against the Royal Laotian Government and calling for the return of the International Commission which adjournedsine die last July. Discussions between my right hon. and learn Friend and the Soviet Foreign Minister have also taken place during the last few days in Geneva.
69WWe have investigated all the accusations against the Laotian Government with great care and have concluded that they have not violated in any respect the Geneva Agreements, as alleged by the Soviet Government. We have also carefully studied the legal position, having regard in particular to the undertaking given in paragraph 12 in the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference to respect the sovereignty and independence of Laos, and have concluded that, if, as they do, the Government of Laos oppose the return of the International Commision their wishes should be respected.
At the present moment when my right hon. and learned Friend is still in the process of discussing this matter with the Soviet Foreign Minister, I cannot say any more. Nor can I make any comment on the most recent developments in Laos. But my right hon. and learned Friend is about to send a reply to the Soviet Note of 30th May and this will be published after it has been delivered. Meanwhile, however, it may help to place the matter in its proper perspective if I circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT our Note to the Soviet Government of 7th April. We had been waiting to receive Soviet reactions to it but, as they have now published their Note of 30th of May, which makes no reference to ours, I consider we should now publish it.
Following is the information: