§ 51. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister whether he will put forward a plan for disengagement in Central Europe at the forthcoming Summit talks.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have never supported what is usually called "disengagement". What we do support are the provisions for controlling armaments in an agreed zone in Europe which were contained in the Western plan put forward at the Geneva Conference in May.
§ Mr. RankinMay I ask the Prime Minister if he will say whether, in the course of his consultations with other members of the Western Alliance, such as France and Germany, he has found any support for the ideas on disengagement which he put forward at the General Election?
§ The Prime MinisterI did not put forward any ideas on disengagement other than those which were in conformity with the May proposals by the Western Powers and, as the Western Powers agreed to those proposals and still stand by them, those represent the views of the Western Powers and of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs the proposals for controlled disarmament put forward by the Western Powers were made conditional on a number of other things happening, is the Prime Minister prepared to put forward on its own a proposal for a zone of controlled disarmament?
§ The Prime MinisterIn the Moscow communiqué, where this really arose, the idea of the possibility of a zone of controlled disarmament in Europe was linked with the settlement of the political problems.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs it not the case that in the Moscow communiqué it was stated that both sides would consider and study this proposal on its own? Will the Prime Minister say whether he at any rate thinks that there is a great deal to be said for advancing this proposal on its own without any other conditions? Is there any possible objection to the establishment of such a zone?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat the Moscow communiqué said was that
After considered study negotiations could lay the foundations of a suitable system of European security.That was the first part of that paragraph. That further study was given, and, indeed, in May the Western Powers' proposals were put forward but now, in future discussions, those proposals can be elaborated, either by themselves or in connection with other proposals, but they stand on the May proposals.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether in all these negotiations over the coming months he 1650 will bear in mind that the Labour Party's proposals for Central Europe as for Africa were massively repudiated in the General Election?