§ 49. Mr. Doddsasked, the Prime Minister if he will make a statement in respect to the latest letter from Marshal Bulganin with suggestions to end the cold war and stop the arms race.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on my right hon. Friend's behalf to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on Tuesday.
§ Mr. DoddsIs not that the usual old stuff that makes people more fed up than ever? Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to a recent Gallup poll 85 per cent. of the people want the Government to do more than they have done before? Will not he agree that there is much truth in the statement by Mr. Lester Pearson that the West in preparation for war act like giants, but in preparation for peace like retarded pygmies? Will not the Government do much more to call the bluff of the Russians?
§ Mr. ButlerI do not accept any of those statements. There has been a recent discussion at N.A.T.O. the results of which are not yet apparent to us because the communiqué has not yet been transmitted to us, but it would be very wrong to pursue this by question and answer until we hear what success we have had in the recent discussions.