§ 53. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether the speech by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at Glasgow on 7th February, alleging that the recent Soviet proposals on Berlin contain a threat to Western communications with that city, represented the policy of the Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. What my right hon. and learned Friend said was that the Soviet Note of 27th November contained a unilateral denunciation of what we considered to be their obligations with regard to our right of access to Berlin.
§ Mr. ZilliacusWithout justifying this unilateral action, may I ask whether it is not a fact that the Soviet Government have proposed to keep the communications open, merely replacing Soviet officials with East German officials? Could not the threat be overcome by merely treating these East German officials as Soviet agents?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Question asked whether I approve of and agree 200 with the speech which my right hon. and learned Friend made. I said that I did, and all the more so because the Soviet Note had unilaterally denounced what we regarded as being one of their obligations. That is a matter which has to be discussed and threshed out.