§ 37. Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for Foriegn Affairs what proposals he now supports for a temporary security pact in Europe.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanAs has often been explained in this House, there can be no genuine security in Europe so long as Germany remains divided. Until an agreement is reached on German reunification, I see no advantage in a temporary pact which could only provide an illusion of security.
§ Mr. ParkinWill the Foreign Secretary, at the end of a series of Questions not all of which have been non-controversial, renew the assurance that none of the proposals which the Government have tabled in relation to European security and a settlement has been finally withdrawn; and will he bear in mind that The Times of 15th October, foreseeing, perhaps prudently, that the Geneva Conference would not settle anything, said:
Is it not possible to have a pact on a provisional basis that in no way rules out German unity for the future?
§ Mr. MacmillanNo, Sir. To do that might, I am afraid, have exactly the opposite effect and make it almost certain that Germany would remain divided. I have more sympathy for the other part of the hon. Gentleman's question. We will certainly press on with everything we can to try to arrive at a solution, and of course the question whether the Geneva Conference should meet again will be discussed in due course through diplomatic channels.