§ 25. Mr. Croninasked the Lord Privy Seal what recent communications he has had with the Foreign Ministers of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation on the subject of the present armed Communist infiltration of South Vietnam.
103W
§ Mr. HeathThere is routine consultation among members of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation about all events affecting security of the Treaty area.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that the International Control Commission in Vietnam has drawn the attention of those concerned in its 11th Interim Report to the serious situation in Vietnam; and if, in view of this, he will take steps to implement the recommendations of the Geneva Conference of 1954.
§ Mr. HeathYes; Her Majesty's Government is also well aware of the seriousness of the situation in Vietnam.
As regards the second part of the Question, the implementation of the recommendations of the Geneva Agreement has always depended upon the condition that the cease-fire should be effective and in particular that there should be no military action by the North in the southern part of the country and vice versa. Unfortunately this provision has not been observed by the North.
As hon. Members are aware, my noble Friend the Foreign Secretary addressed a Note dated 3rd November to the Soviet Government, requesting the Soviet Co-Chairman to join with him in calling upon the North Vietnamese authorities to cease their intervention in South Vietnam. The Soviet Government have not yet replied.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Lord Privy Seal what request he has received from the United States Government to join with them in providing military and economic aid to South Vietnam.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government, as one of the two co-chairmen of the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indo-China, to prevent the importation of arms and military personnel into South Vietnam in violation of the 1954 Geneva agreements.
§ Mr. HeathAlleged violations of the Geneva Settlement of 1954 are a matter for investigation by the International Control Commission, and for subsequent104W report to the Co-Chairmen. No recent reports have been received about the importation of arms and military personnel into South Vietnam.