§ 53. Sir L. Plummerasked the Prime Minister what plans he has for visiting the British Trade Fair to be held in Lisbon next May.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir. But my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has accepted an invitation to be present at the opening.
§ Sir L. PlummerIs the Prime Minister aware that his Answer will give considerable satisfaction to a number of people in this country who share his detestation of totalitarian government and that they will be happy that on this occasion he is not to grace Portugal with his presence? Has he any fear that if he did go to Portugal he, like another right hon. Member of this House, would be declared persona non grata?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it very important that we should have this fair. Our relations with Portugal are very good. Our exports to Portugal in 1958 totalled £22½ million. I should like to congratulate the Federation of British Industries on its initiative in making arrangements for this fair.
§ Mr. BevanWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be most unfortunate if our participation in the fair indicated any respect or admiration by us for constitutional behaviour in Portugal?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not understand that point of view. Portugal is our oldest Ally. It is a member of N.A.T.O., by an arrangement made by the Foreign Secretary in a previous Government. Apart from that, we are always being urged to try to increase trade without regard to ideological differences.
§ The Prime MinisterI think the right hon. Member is not facing the issue I put to him. We are having a perpetual demand to increase trade. Trade is one thing and ideological points of view may be another.
§ Mr. McAddenWould my right hon. Friend explain why it is thought right not to go to a totalitarian Government such as Portugal, whereas it is thought thoroughly right and praiseworthy to go to a totalitarian Government in Soviet Russia?
§ The Prime MinisterIt was that logical dilemma which my hon. Friend has made clear that I was trying to hint at.
§ Mr. ShinwellMight not it be that after the Prime Minister has visited totalitarian Russia he might be inclined to change his mind about visiting totalitarian Portugal?
§ The Prime MinisterI should very much like to go to Portugal. My only trouble is that I am not sure whether I shall have the time to do so in May.
§ Mr. ShinwellMay we now take it as quite firm that the General Election will take place in the month of May?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it is more likely that we shall be engaged during the month of May—at least I hope so—in very important negotiations in regard to Europe.