§ Mr. LANSBURY (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make as to the postponement of his visit to Berlin?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe German Foreign Secretary informed His Majesty's Ambassador in Berlin yesterday that the German Chancellor, having caught cold during his visit to the Saar, was suffering from great hoarseness and that on his doctor's orders the conversations arranged to take place this week with British Ministers in Berlin would therefore, to the German Government's great regret, have to be postponed to a later date.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs there any idea as to when the meeting will take place?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am in communication with the German Government on the subject.
§ Mr. LANSBURYOn that point, would the Foreign Secretary advise his colleagues to withdraw the White Paper until after the conversations?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir. Certainly not. I can hardly imagine that anyone would wish to take seriously the suggestion that if you have a statement to make you should reserve it until after the conversations.
§ Mr. LANSBURYArising out of that, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman 1950 whether he really thinks that it is conducive to friendly negotiation to issue so unfriendly a document as that which the Prime Minister initialled?
§ Sir J. SIMONThat is a matter which will, I dare say, come under discussion on another occasion.
§ Mr. COCKSWill the right hon. Gentleman take this opportunity of visiting Moscow, where they have not lost their voices?