HC Deb 24 October 1956 vol 558 c620
14. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what advice he is offering to British organisations invited to the Sixth World Youth Festival in Moscow next year.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

This Festival is being held under the auspices of two international Communist-controlled organisations, the International Union of Students and the World Federation of Democratic Youth. Like the five preceding World Youth Festivals, it is intended to exploit young people for the purposes of international Communist propaganda.

When the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) was questioned about a preceding festival in 1951, he said that the young people of this country are not easily duped and that we could rely on their good sense. I share that opinion.

Mr. Mayhew

While agreeing that festivals run by these Communist organisations are worse than useless, may I ask the Government whether they cannot take some positive steps to provide festivals and meetings between the youth of Communist and non-Communist countries on equal terms, perhaps through the United Nations?

Mr. Lloyd

That is perhaps a rather different matter and I should be very glad to look into it, but the hon. Member asked me what advice we were giving about this particular conference.