§ 45. Mr. Healeyasked the Prime Minister if he will now state what proposals have been agreed between the heads of Government of Great Britain, the United States of America, and France concerning the date of a meeting with Mr. Khrushchev.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)We shall be discussing this, among other questions, at our meetings in Paris beginning on 19th December
§ Mr. HealeyAs public opinion in this country and, I think, throughout Europe is getting tired of the present shilly-shallying over the date of the summit, which forms such a dismal contrast to the boast made by the Prime Minister during the election, can the Prime Minister at least tell us whether he agrees with the proposal made by Dr. Adenauer in Paris last week, that the summit should be held in mid-April, since if it is held much later it will get so involved with the American Presidential election as to be hardly worth holding next year at all?
§ The Prime MinisterI would like it to be as soon as possible, of course, but as the Paris meeting is now only about ten days from now, I am very grateful to have the suggestion and support of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. GaitskellSince the Prime Minister was so good as to confide freely in the country during the General Election on when he expected the date of the summit to be, can he at least tell us what proposals he will make at the meeting of Western leaders?
§ The Prime MinisterI never suggested any precise date—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I said that I hoped that the date would soon be fixed— in a few days". I proved to be wrong. I proved to be too optimistic. All I can say is that I shall be very disappointed if a date is not fixed at the Paris meeting.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs it not pathetic that the only thing which seems to unite the Opposition is a desire to reduce British prestige abroad? [Horn. MEMBRS: "What about Suez?"]