HC Deb 26 November 1958 vol 596 cc354-6
19. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is yet in a position to make a further statement in respect of the Polish disarmament proposals.

24. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will invite the Polish Foreign Minister to meet him in London or Warsaw in order to clarify the proposals made by Mr. Rapacki on 4th November for a controlled reduction of nuclear and conventional armaments in Central Europe.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

No, Sir. Mr. Rapacki has not yet communicated his proposals to us officially. Until he does so it would hardly be appropriate to suggest a special meeting at which to discuss them. This is in any case a matter in which Her Majesty's Government must act in concert with their Allies.

Mr. Warbey

Why should not the British Government take an independent initiative in this matter? if we are seriously concerned about the situation in Central Europe, and about achieving a solution of the political problems, is not it important to take a decisive step towards a solution of the military problems, in which the political problems are involved? Does not the revised Rapacki Plan offer a real chance for a new start in this matter?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think that we are likely to get a solution of the political problems if we act in concert with our allies rather than unilaterally.

Mr. Bevan

But is it not an obvious corollary that our allies should act in concert with us? Is not it a fact that when the first Rapacki Plan was mooted it was immediately turned down by Washington? Was there consultation with the British Government at the time, and did we then act in concert with the Americans?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

It is not correct to say that it was immediately turned down by the United States, but I will say that we will, of course, give very serious consideration to any plan which Mr. Rapacki puts forward—and the latest outline plan deserves very careful consideration.

Mr. Bevan

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my supplementary question? When the Americans turned down the first Rapacki Plan did they consult the British Government, and was their decision in agreement with that of the British Government?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

So far as I know, the United States consulted all their N.A.T.O. allies.

Mr. Bevan

Really!

Sir J. Hutchison

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind, on the question of acting in concert, that the first Rapacki Plan was turned down by the whole Council of Europe and the whole of Western European Union?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

That is quite correct.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Can the Minister of State say whether the present conference in Geneva on surprise attacks is to consider the technical aspects of the Rapacki Plan, which are extremely important?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I would doubt that, because the indications are that the Polish Government do not wish their plan to be discussed at the conference on surprise attacks.

Mr. Sorensen

Can we at least have an assurance that in their consideration of this matter with our American associates Her Majesty's Government are not being precluded from analysing and examining these proposals themselves in view of the possibility that they may contain something of real value and offer a distinct contribution to the future possibility of peace?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I can confirm that we are not precluded from giving these proposals very careful consideration on our own.