HC Deb 04 February 1959 vol 599 cc389-90
45. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Prime Minister the precise terms of his recent message to Mr. Khrushohev congratulating him on the success of the recent Russian rocket.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

With permission, I will circulate the text of my right hon. Friend's message, together with that of Mr. Khrushchev's reply, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Hughes

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I would not dream of embarrassing the Prime Minister by asking him when he is likely to go to Moscow, but if by accident he should arrive there, will he keep in mind that it is now stated to be possible to land these rockets in any part of the world? Will the Prime Minister do his utmost to see that some agreement can be reached which will save both London and Moscow?

Mr. Butler

I cannot describe the likely journeys of my right hon. Friend, but he will always take the best possible means of transport. I will certainly bring the hon. Gentleman's advice about the rocket to my right hon. Friend's attention. I am glad to see that it is one of the hon. Member's new interests.

Following is the information:

Message from the Prime Minister to Mr. Khrushchev dated January 3, 1959: Please accept my congratulations on an outstanding achievement. It will, I am sure, make an important contribution to man's scientific knowledge. British scientists join me in congratulating their Soviet colleagues and all those concerned in this project. Reply from Mr. Khrushchev to the Prime Minister dated January 19, 1959: Accept my gratitude for your kind congratulations on the occasion of the successful launching of the Soviet cosmic rocket. I also express gratitude to the British scientists who have congratulated the Soviet scientists and engineers and workers who realised this scientific-technical achievement for the purposes of acquiring knowledge about the universe.