§ 40. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now seek to put an end to the dangers and anomalies resulting from the division of Germany and the four-Power occupation of Berlin, exemplified by the present crisis, by calling a Summit Conference to discuss the unification of 349 Germany within an all-European treaty based on the Charter but outside the rival alliances and accompanied by arrangements for the limitation and control of armaments and withdrawal of foreign forces, on the lines of the revised Rapacki Plan.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreNo, Sir. I cannot accept the suggestion that, because certain statements have been made on behalf of the Soviet Government about Soviet intentions with regard to Berlin, we should abandon the proposals we have put forward for German reunification and European security, which we consider provide a reasonable basis for negotiation.
§ Mr. ZilliacusDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the policy of asking the Russians to agree to a united Germany being recruited into N.A.T.O. is a dead-end policy and that nothing will ever come of it? Will not the Government try a fresh initiative, a new approach, on the lines suggested in this Question which, in effect, is the policy of the Opposition?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI did not know that the hon. Gentleman had now become the spokesman for the whole of the Opposition. I repeat what I said in the original Answer. I do not think that, simply because Mr. Khrushchev says something, we should abandon a policy which we believe to be right.