§ 46. Mr. Stracheyasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his own declarations in favour of conversations with the Soviet Government, he will consult with our Allies in order to arrange that full talks should begin with the Soviet Government pari passu with the process of the ratification of the Paris Agreements, without delaying that process from going forward, but during the weeks which must supervene before the last Government concerned have affixed their ratification.
§ The Prime MinisterOur declared policy is to procure, by every means, the ratification of the London and Paris Agreements. After that, and on that 561 basis, we shall look forward to further developments of understanding with the Soviet Government. I am sure it would be a mistake to mix up the two processes.
§ Mr. StracheyEven if the Prime Minister now discounts the possibility of such conversations being fruitful, does he not think it would be very beneficial to the West to test the intentions of the Soviet Government in regard to Germany before the irrevocable step of creating two divided and armed Germanys is taken?
§ The Prime MinisterI take exactly the opposite view. I cannot think of anything worse than to hamper the ratification of the Paris and London Agreements by mixing them up with other discussions, and I cannot think of anything that would give a worse chance to good discussions with the Soviet Government, to which I look forward, than to mix them up with all the discussions and arguments that are going on about the process of ratification. One step at a time.
§ Captain DuncanWill my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hand to the right hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Strachey) a copy of the Highway Code, in which it is laid down how dangerous it is to walk in the middle of the road?
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan the Prime Minister give any indication as to how long this interim period before ratification will last?
§ The Prime MinisterI must say that we have waited a good long time to solve this issue but, since the London Conference, it has gone pretty rapidly. I would therefore certainly hope that Christmas will be the period to which we can look forward as ending this present phase, but it may be there will be a delay of a month or two. Several Parliaments are involved and no one can predict with absolute accuracy the course that will be taken by any particular free Parliament.