§ 49. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether, following the recent exchange of Notes between the Soviet Government and the three Western Governments, he will make a further statement on the progress towards the holding of a Summit Conference.
§ 54. Mr. Awberyasked the Prime Minister, in view of the widespread concern over the failure to hold an early Summit Conference, if he will state the matters which the Soviet Government have categorically refused to discuss or the conditions which they have laid down which make such a meeting impossible; and if he will make clear the conditions on which Her Majesty's Government insist before taking part in such a conference.
§ The Prime MinisterI would draw the attention of the House to the terms of my letter of 1st July to Mr. Khrushchev, to which I hope that I shall receive an early reply.
The matters which the Soviet Government so far refuse to discuss at a Summit Conference are German reunification and ways of easing tension in Eastern Europe. But, as my letter makes plain, they have not yet agreed to any method of negotiating about what should be discussed.
I do not consider that the Soviet Government have made a Summit Conference impossible. As I said in my letter, we have not abandoned hope and do not intend to relax our efforts.
204 Her Majesty's Government intend to take part in a Summit Conference on two conditions. First, there must be adequate preparation. Secondly, the result of the preparatory work must satisfy us that a Summit Conference would provide an opportunity for serious discussions of major problems and would be an effective means of reaching agreement on significant subjects. That is what we and our Allies have said all along.
§ Mr. HendersonCan the Prime Minister say whether any progress has been made in the diplomatic talks that have been taking place during recent weeks, if not months? Can he assure us that nothing in the nature of a deadlock has arisen?
§ The Prime MinisterProgress is slow, but I refuse to allow it to be considered as a deadlock. I repeat that we are anxious to make progress, and I do not think that we should be diverted from our purpose even by certain incidents or difficulties—sometimes of a tragic kind—which are thrown in our way. I am bound to say that recent events have confirmed me in my view that any agreements made should be of such a character that their execution is both verifiable and controllable.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a feeling of frustration in the country because of the continued delay in summoning this conference? We agree that he is doing something to bring it about, but is he aware that one of our Foreign Secretaries quite recently said that we want to meet each other as statesmen, with the cards placed on the table face upwards? Is he satisfied that statesmen on both sides are placing their cards on the table face upwards now?
§ The Prime MinisterAt the preliminary discussions it is the purpose to make sure that there are some cards, and what they will be—and to put them on the table now, so that we can see them.
§ Mr. GaitskellCan the Prime Minister say whether, since the exchange of letters between Mr. Khrushchev and the Governments of the West, any further meetings have taken place between the ambassadors of the three Western Powers and Mr. Gromyko?
§ The Prime MinisterI could not say without notice.