South-East Asia (Defence)

48.

Mr. Bevan
asked the Prime Minister which are the countries with which Her Majesty's Government are having conversations with regard to a security pact for South-East Asia.

51.

Mr. Donnelly
asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement regarding the progress of the conversations regarding a South-East Asia security arrangement.

The Prime Minister
I should be very ready to make a statement on this subject, but the situations at Geneva and in Paris are, at the present time, so uncertain that I think it would be better to wait till next Monday. If the right hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member will repeat their Questions then, I will give  them the fullest answers which are possible.

Mr. Follick
In view of the fact that the Portuguese have a colony very near Australia, can the Prime Minister say whether anything can be done about that colony in the conversations that will deal with that area?

The Prime Minister
I should like to make detailed inquiries into these matters before I attempt a public answer.