HC Deb 27 July 1953 vol 518 cc872-3
24. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the representative of Her Majesty's Government during the Washington talks declined, at first, to agree to the proposal that there should be a meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss the future of Germany.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The hon. Member's Question seems to be based on a complete misunderstanding of the facts. Such divergencies of view as there were between the representatives of the three Governments on this subject arose from my noble Friend's advocacy of the Prime Minister's proposals of 11th May.

Mr. Donnelly

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman seen the reports which appeared in the American and French Press, and can he give a firm assurance that at no stage during those conversations the Marquess of Salisbury opposed the conference of Foreign Ministers on Germany on the ground that it was going too far at that stage?

Mr. Lloyd

I adhere to the terms of my original answer, that my noble Friend advocated throughout those talks the proposal put forward by the Prime Minister on 11th May.

Mr. Donnelly

If the right hon. and learned Gentleman adheres to the terms of his original answer, why cannot he say "Yes" to the question I put to him just now?