HC Deb 29 October 1952 vol 505 cc1907-8
11. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Yugoslavia and his conversations with Marshal Tito.

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. I travelled to Yugoslavia at the invitation of the Yugoslav Government. I did not go for the purpose of conducting negotiations, but to make contact and to exchange views with the Yugoslav leaders. I had a series of frank and cordial talks with Marshal Tito and members of his Government. We reviewed the world situation in general and also many problems of common interest in Europe and elsewhere. I was glad to find that Marshal Tito's views on these matters seemed to be very close to our own. In particular, I welcomed the evident determination of the Yugoslav Government and people to maintain their independence and the steady development of better relations with their neighbours. I told Marshal Tito that I felt sure that understanding and wise statesmanship would be brought to bear on the problems that still remain.

Her Majesty's Government now look forward to an era of increasingly close co-operation between the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. I am sure that this, in turn, will strengthen the cause of world peace and will be to the mutual benefit of both countries.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Foreign Secretary for that comprehensive reply, the sentiments of which, I am sure, will be shared by Members on this side of the House, may I ask whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the discussions that they had regarding Trieste and whether any progress was made over that problem?

Mr. Eden

Trieste was discussed, and very fully discussed, but I have nothing more that I want to say about it in public at present. If the hon. Member would like a detailed statement, perhaps he would be good enough to put down a Question, because clearly I shall have to choose my words carefully.

Mr. Stokes

Did the right hon. Gentleman make any representations to Marshal Tito about restoring full and proper freedom to Archbishop Stepinac?

Mr. Eden

I will put it this way. I think that the Yugoslav Government are aware of the views that this country holds generally about matters of religious toleration, but I think also that the decisions on those matters are, as the right hon. Gentleman would agree, for the Yugoslav Government to take and not for us.

Mr. Stokes

But I asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he made any representations. I know that his American opposite numbers have done so, and I wanted to feel that Her Majesty's Government were also doing something.

Mr. Eden

I think that what I have said is a great deal more useful than public declarations about representations.

Forward to