§ 50. Dr. Strossasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his conversations with Mr. Khrushchev and Marshal Bulganin on the situation in the Middle East.
§ The Prime MinisterI would prefer to make no statement on any aspect of these talks while they are still in progress.
§ Dr. StrossWhilst, of course, not wishing to embarrass the Prime Minister 1618 in any way, particularly in front of witnesses, may I ask whether, so far at least, one may observe that they may well have brought peace nearer in the Middle East?
§ The Prime MinisterThe value of all conversations, in my experience, is to be judged when they are concluded.
§ Mr. RobensWhilst expressing the hope that the talks which the Prime Minister is now conducting with Mr. Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev will turn out to be quite successful, may I ask whether, after the talks have been concluded, the right hon. Gentleman will consider issuing a White Paper indicating the topics that have been discussed and the conclusions arrived at?
§ The Prime MinisterThere will certainly be, no doubt, a very full announcement when the talks are concluded. The talks are confidential. The results will be fully exposed and no doubt, in due course, if it wishes to do so, the House can debate them.
§ Mr. ShinwellCould the Prime Minister at the same time furnish details of the conversations at another function?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ 52. Mr. Royleasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the Treaty of Paris was signed in April, 1856, if he will arrange a public ceremony to mark this anniversary during the visit of Mr. Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev.
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that the anniversary fell in March, and in these circumstances the hon. Gentleman's interesting suggestion does not arise.
§ Mr. RoyleWill the Prime Minister allow me to apologise? Perhaps my reference was wrong, but I am in very good company in that respect, including even The Times newspaper. Will the Prime Minister, however, agree that it is a matter of mutual congratulation that the peoples of France, Russia and Britain have lived in peace, in spite of changing Governments and changing régimes, for a hundred years, and that there should be some outstanding recognition of this fact by the Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI think there has been a lot of outstanding recognition of 1619 Anglo-Soviet relations in the last few days, and we welcome those opportunities. I do not think we need go back a hundred years. I think rather that we want to look forward to the next twenty or thirty years.
§ Mr. A. HendersonDoes not the Prime Minister agree that the best commemoration of this anniversary would be a successful outcome to the present talks?