§ 53. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to ensure that only those Cabinet Ministers who are known to possess the confidence of the American people should broadcast to that country in future?
§ The Prime MinisterIt was at my personal request that my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council delivered the excellent and inspiring broadcast to which the hon. Member refers. I have no doubt that it was widely welcomed both here and in the United States, and I am sorry that in this hour of peril the hon. Member should put upon the Notice Paper a Question which does the country so little good and himself so little credit.
§ Mr. StraussDoes not the Prime Minister consider that it is in the national interest that broadcasts from Ministers to America should be made by people who are persona grata with the American public—[HON. MEMBERS: HOW do you know?"]—either by himself or other Ministers who are persona grata but not by those against whom there is strong feeling among the American public?
§ The Prime MinisterI have the greatest respect and regard for the American public, but I do not consider that we have any means of determining with any precision which of us is persona grata, nor in the ultimate issue could I recognise their final right to judge.