§ 47. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of calling into consultation the leaders of all parties in the House, with a view to seeing how far it may be possible to agree upon a foreign policy backed by all parties and so avoid the division and national disunity at present existing?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not consider that present circumstances justify the assumptions that appear to underlie the hon. Member's question. I certainly do not accept the implication that there is national disunity, and I should strongly deprecate any suggestion of the kind.
As regards consultation with the leaders of other parties, I should have no hesitation in asking the Leader of the 568 Opposition or the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Caithness (Sir A. Sinclair) to consult with me or my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on any aspect of foreign affairs about which consultation might appear to be useful, and I do not consider that anything beyond such occasional informal discussions is required.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the fact that it is known that the Oppositions are strongly opposed to the foreign policy of the Government, is it not worth while trying to make some effort to achieve national unity at this critical time?