§ 45. Mr. Grimondasked the Prime Minister what further progress has been achieved towards agreement over the Western position at the Foreign Ministers' and Summit Conferences; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI have been asked to reply.
The process of preparing for a Foreign Ministers' Conference is continuing. On 31st March and 1st April I reviewed in Washington with the Foreign Ministers of France and the Federal Republic of Germany and the acting Secretary of State of the United States, the report of the quadripartite working group of officials which met in Paris from 9th to 21st March. The four Ministers provided further agreed guidance for the quadripartite working group for its next series of meetings which are due to begin in London on 13th April. On 2nd and 3rd April the four Ministers reported on the results of their discussions to the North Atlantic Council and there was a full discussion in the Council. The four Ministers agreed to meet again in Paris on 29th April to review the further work now to be undertaken by the working group. Arrangements have been made for the North Atlantic Council to continue to be consulted.
The present position therefore is that there is agreement on the objectives, and considerable progress has been made towards agreement on how to handle the negotiations.
§ Mr. GrimondWhile thanking the Foreign Secretary for that reply, may I ask him if it has been agreed in the West that it is not necessary to have a detailed agenda for the summit meeting?
§ Mr. LloydMy Answer dealt with the Foreign Ministers' meeting. I realise that the hon. Gentleman's Question included the summit meeting, but 196 he will remember that in the Notes the matter was left for consideration at the Foreign Ministers' meeting.