§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Prime Minister what response she has had to her appeal to the United Nations for an international conference on the future of the Vietnamese boat people.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend has been in touch with the United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Waldheim; and my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker), Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was recently in Geneva for discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
It is clear from these and our many other contacts with concerned nations, that there is widespread and growing recognition that urgent practical action is required to deal with the problems that the Vietnamese Government's policies have imposed on the international community. My proposal was for a special conference under United Nations auspices to consider this.
Several Governments, including those of the United States and France, have expressed support for such a conference. The EEC Foreign Ministers further issued 619W a declaration on 18 June endorsing the proposal for a conference under United Nations auspices.
I am hopeful that Dr. Waldheim will call a conference in the near future.