HC Deb 10 June 1958 vol 589 cc33-5
49. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the preparations for the proposed Summit Conference.

52. Mr. Swingler

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to be in a position to announce the date of a Summit Conference of heads of Governments.

53. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with regard to the holding of summit talks.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

The talks between the three Ambassadors in Moscow and Mr. Gromyko are continuing. We have agreed with the Soviet Government that they should be confidential. All I can say, therefore, is that some progress has been made. It will be for the Foreign Ministers, when they meet and if they conclude the preparatory work to their satisfaction, to make further arrangements for a summit meeting.

Mr. Henderson

Despite the pessimistic statement made by Mr. Dulles last week, may I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether we can take it that it remains the view of Her Majesty's Government that the proposed Summit Conference should and will take place well before the end of this year?

Mr. Butler

I cannot give a date, of course, because that is precisely what is being discussed. The first thing I can say is what the Prime Minister himself said that the future of the Summit Conference depends on two things: First, on the work which the Ambassadors are now doing and, second, on us all being able to feel that we can have a meeting with some reasonable chance of progress. As my right hon. Friend said, we do not want a Summit Conference which has no results and leads not to the removal of tensions but to their acceleration.

Mr. Gaitskell

Whilst there is undoubtedly something to be said for secret talks at this stage between the Ambassadors and the Soviet Foreign Minister, can the Lord Privy Seal give us any indication of when this series of discussions is likely to be concluded?

Mr. Butler

Between them the Ambassadors have had six meetings with Mr. Gromyko since the talks began. I cannot give an actual date as to when they will be concluded, but I feel certain that the present activities of the Prime Minister, and recent developments, will not mean that they will go any slower.

Mr. Swingler

Did I understand the Lord Privy Seal to say it is the aim that the present discussions should lead to a date for the Summit Conference, or is it still proposed that there should be a Foreign Minister's meeting before the Summit Conference and that it should be left to the Foreign Ministers to decide the date of the summit meeting?

Mr. Butler

As I said in quoting the Prime Minister and in my original Answer, it will be for the Foreign Ministers, when they meet and when they have concluded the preparatory work to their satisfaction, to make the actual arrangements, which include the date.

Mr. Bevan

Are we to understand that the decision as to whether there will be some reasonable hope for an agreement at the summit will be decided by the Foreign Ministers' meeting and not by the Ambassadorial meetings?

Mr. Butler

That is as I stated in my Answer.

Mr. Elwyn Jones

Is it possible or expedient for the right hon. Gentleman to give some indication of the nature of the difficulties which may be standing in the way of these talks, if any?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. As I said in my original Answer, it has been agreed that the talks should be confidential.