§ 46. Mr. Warbeyasked the Prime Minister in what form he has conveyed to authorities of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics his expression of willingness to meet Mr. Malenkov if agreement can be reached on an appropriate time and place.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no reason to think that the Soviet authorities are in any doubt about my views on this matter, but I am not going to be drawn into discussing methods of communication.
§ Mr. WarbeyAs the Prime Minister announced last week, I believe for the first time, that he is willing to meet Mr. Malenkov if the appropriate time and place could be found, will he not follow the usual precedent of informing the Soviet authorities so that negotiations can take place through the usual diplomatic channels to arrange such a meeting?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think it would be advantageous in every case to disclose all the methods of communication which take place in these matters.
§ Mr. BevanDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is very difficult for the public outside to understand the situation when week after week he says in this House that he is willing to have high level talks with the Russians and, whenever they invite him to have them, he declines?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know what invitation the right hon. Gentleman is referring to.
§ The Prime MinisterThat was a general invitation to a four-Power conference——
§ The Prime Minister—and at this particular stage, when the agreements reached in Western Europe have still to be ratified, I do not think the moment has been reached for a four-Power conference.
§ Mr. BevanIs not that all the more reason why the right hon. Gentleman should accept the invitation just now? Is it not the fact that the Prime Minister of France, who is a party to the agreements recently tentatively entered into, has said that he himself sees no reason why talks should not run concurrently with the establishment of Western European Union?
§ The Prime MinisterWell, Sir, whether there should be a four-Power conference, including the Soviets, is a matter which must be discussed by the Governments concerned, and the exact relation of such a very important meeting to any personal contact I may have the opportunity of making with Mr. Malenkov, that personal intervention ought not in any way to affect a general decision on the main issue.