HC Deb 24 January 1968 vol 757 c143W
Mr. Roebuck

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to call a conference of the Commonwealth countries concerned with the defence of South-East Asia.

Mr. George Thomson

The proposal for such a conference came originally from the Prime Minister of Malaysia and I have no doubt that he will be getting in touch with us and with the other Commonwealth Governments in due course. For our part, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 16th January, we would be ready to take part in such a conference to discuss future defence arrangements for the area consequent upon our own withdrawal.