§ 47. Mr. Fellasked the Prime Minister whether, after considering the advantages of holding an informal private no-agenda meeting of the heads of Government of Great Britain, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to prepare the way for the later Summit Conference, he will now make a statement of his proposals.
§ The Prime MinisterWhile I appreciate the proposal which my hon. Friend has in mind, I think the chances of a summit meeting achieving at least a limited measure of success are greater if the Western countries continue to urge the plan which they have been advocating.
§ Mr. FellThat is all very well, but this is not my proposal; it was, in fact, 590 the proposal of my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill). Is my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister not aware that many millions of people are growing increasingly worried about the extraordinary propaganda battle that has developed over the Summit Conference, that they have little faith either in the ability of Mr. Dulles to answer the propaganda effectively, or of our own Foreign Office to deal with this matter. [Interruption.] This is far too serious, I should have thought, for me to need propaganda help from the Opposition.
Is not the Prime Minister aware that our own Foreign Office is not in the position which the Prime Minister is in to be able to reach some agreement at the Summit Conference? Is he further aware that this is the most important matter we can possibly discuss at this time, and that, surely, serious consideration should be given to the possibility of holding a private, informal, no-agenda meeting, if necessary, of the Prime Minister himself and the leader of the Soviet Union, without America, if necessary, as was indeed suggested by Lord Beaverbrook in the Sunday Express?
§ The Prime MinisterAll these considerations are important, and all these sources of points of view are respectable, but I am bound to say that I still think that a summit meeting to prepare for another summit meeting is not necessarily the best way of doing the preparatory work.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware that some of us are disturbed and surprised by the statement made by the American Secretary of State that if we were to engage in a Summit Conference now it would involve recognising the permanent division of Germany, recognising East Germany, and making a number of other points which seem to us to be contrary to the facts as known to us on this side of the House? Can the right hon. Gentleman throw some light on this statement of Mr. Dulles?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, not without notice, as I am afraid that I have not read it; nor am I, indeed, responsible for it. What I am trying to do, as I have told the House, is to work with the Western Powers in very close co-operation—and 591 this involves a great number of countries—in order, we hope, to get a solution of this problem. As I said the other day, I am not at all pessimistic about our being able to put forward a very good plan, which I hope the Soviet Government will accept.
§ Mr. BevanAs it is the present plan of the Government for the Foreign Ministers, first of all, to meet for the purpose of probing the possibilities of items on the agenda having some chance of agreement, are not these statements by Mr. Dulles, who would be a party to the conference, evidence that, at least on that side, there is very little enthusiasm for this Summit Conference?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think the position is very clear. What we are trying to do is to get general agreement between the Powers concerned as to what should be the next best step we should take, with a view to getting a solution of the preparatory work. As I said, I am not at all without hope that we shall achieve that purpose.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsWill not my right hon. Friend agree that there is considerable danger that the Summit Conference will be snowed under with paper missiles? Will he not also agree that the essential and urgent need for this Government and for the Prime Minister himself is to make a personal effort to break through this barrier of words that is passing backwards and forwards?
§ The Prime MinisterI must rest upon what I am able to do, but I am not conscious of having failed in any personal efforts.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that at last we seem to have in foreign affairs a bipartisan policy?
§ Mr. FellIn view of the lack of information which I have been able to be given on this question, I beg to give notice that I shall try to raise the matter again in any appropriate way I can.