§ Mr. Luardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government, as a signatory of the 13-nation Declaration on Laos of 1962, recognises the overflying of Laos by foreign military aircraft, with or without the consent of the Laotian Government, as compatible with the neutrality of Laos established in that Declaration.
§ Mr. PadleyThe Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos binds its signatories not to "introduce in the Kingdom of Laos foreign troops or military personnel in any form whatsoever". The statement of neutrality by the Royal Government of Laos incorporated in the Declaration says that the Royal Government will not "allow any country to use Laotian territory for military purposes or for the purposes of interference in the internal affairs of other countries". Overflights of Laos by foreign military aircraft are not specially mentioned and, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, their compatibility with the neutrality of Laos established in the Declaration would depend on the circumstances in which they were made, including their purposes 195W and the existence or non-existence of consent from the Royal Government of Laos.