HC Deb 15 July 1953 vol 517 c2054
45. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the interim meeting of Foreign Ministers in Washington.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. R. A. Butler)

The House will no doubt have welcomed the communiqués issued yesterday, which contain the conclusions of the Washington talks. My noble Friend the Acting-Foreign Secretary is now on his way back to report to the Cabinet, and I should prefer to postpone making any further comprehensive statement until the projected debate on foreign affairs.

Mr. Donnelly

Can the right hon. Gentleman amplify the last part of the communiqué regarding the proposed Four-Power talks on Germany? Can he give us any sort of idea of the basis on which we shall be considering a United Germany, and will he remember that the only possible basis on which agreement might be reached is that of a neutralised Germany?

Mr. Butler

These are very important matters which had better be set out in the course of the foreign affairs debate which will be held according to the statement which will be made on Government business tomorrow. If the House would be reasonable and wait for that, it would be more satisfactory.