HC Deb 16 February 1953 vol 511 cc879-81
44. Mr. Edelman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent conversations with members of the French Government.

Mr. Eden

I welcome this opportunity to tell the House how glad my right hon. Friends and I were to meet the French Ministers and to discuss with them a very wide range of problems. These talks with the new French Government have, I am confident, helped to underline the close and enduring friendship between our two countries.

As stated in the communiqué issued at the end of the talks, we undertook a full review of international affairs, in the course of which we had a useful exchange of views on matters in which we are jointly concerned. Ideas were also exchanged on possible ways of giving further practical effect to the declared intention of the United Kingdom to establish the closest possible military and political associations with the European Defence Community. There was also an extensive discussion of economic problems.

Mr. Wyatt

Could the Foreign Secretary be a little more precise about the suggestions he made with regard to our association with the European Defence Community? Has he now told the French Government that he is willing for Britain to enter the European Defence Community—or to enter it in so far as it will give us voting powers within the Community?

Mr. Eden

Her Majesty's Government have not told the French Government they are prepared to enter the European Defence Community, nor, I believe, do the French Government expect Her Majesty's Government to do anything of the kind. As regards our own suggestions, amongst others there was the one—with which the hon. Gentleman is probably familiar—for very extensive technical collaboration with the European Defence Community.

Mr. Gaitskell

If the French representations include a request to us to lift restrictions on imports coming from France, what would be our reply?

Mr. Eden

I think that question might be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade rather than to me.

Mr. Philips Price

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some statement shortly about the possibility of closer collaboration with the European Defence Community in the near future?

Mr. Eden

We did exchange ideas. Now we have to see whether we can make progress together to narrow the differences, such as they are, between us. Until that has been done I cannot say anything more.