LAOS (CONTROL COMMISSION) (Hansard, 24 February 1959)

§ Mr. R. Allan

Yes. The text of the reply from the Co-Chairmen to the International Commission of Supervision and Control in Laos delivered to the Indian Government in New Delhi on 31st January, 1959, is as followsThe two Co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference on Indo-China have the honour to acknowledge the receipt, through the good offices of the Government of India, of a Communication of the 22nd of July from the Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos. The two Co-Chairmen note that a resolution 'That the Commission in Loas be adjourned sine die and may be reconvened in accordance with normal procedures', was adopted by the Commission, by a majority vote, on the 19th of July. The Co-Chairmen wish to take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the noteworthy role of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos in carrying out the arrangements made at the Geneva conference and in particular to express their gratitude for the valuable contribution of the Government of India whose representatives have presided over the Commission since its establishment. The Co-Chairmen have agreed that copies of the Communication of the 22nd of July from the Indian Chairman and of this reply be transmitted to the other members of the Geneva conference and to the Governments of Canada and of the Polish People's Republic.

The text of the communication from the Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference on Indo-China to the Government of India of 31st January, 1959, is as follows: Acting with the authority of the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain A. Noble and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the U.S.S.R. in the United Kingdom Y. A. Malik have met in London as representatives of the two Co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference on Indo-China in order to exchange views on problems relating to future activities of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos. They have studied the Aide-Mémoires of the Government of India of 3rd May and 13th May, 1958, and noted its continuous concern for the fulfilment of the Geneva Agreements which are the foundation of peace and security in Indo-China. During this period the Co-Chairmen were informed by the Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos, that on 19th July, 1958, the Commission by a majority vote adopted a resolution, 'that the Commission in Laos be adjourned 142W sine die and may be reconvened in accordance with normal procedures'. The two Co-Chairmen took notice of the clarification of the Indian Government that this resolution does not affect the legal status of the Commission and does not reduce the competence of the Commission in implementing the tasks and functions assigned to it by the Geneva Agreements. The Co-Chairmen agreed that the resolution of the Commission of 19th July, 1958, was a procedural decision taken to adjourn sine die and having no connection with the question of dissolution of the Commission. They were agreed that no question of abrogating any of the articles of the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos relating to the International Commission, in particular Article 39, was involved. The Co-Chairmen wish to express their gratitude for the valuable contribution of the Government of India, whose representatives preside over the International Commissions for Supervision and Control in Indo-China to the successful activities of the above mentioned Commissions and they hope that in future it will also actively contribute to their activities in the interests of peace in Indo-China.