§ 47. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the first Soviet Deputy Prime Minister is at present on a private visit to the United States of America; and whether he will issue an invitation to Mr. Mikoyan to visit Great Britain, either as a guest of Her Majesty's Government, or, if he prefers, on the same basis as his recent visit to the United States of America.
§ The Prime MinisterMr. Mikoyan has now returned to the Soviet Union and, in view of the forthcoming Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, it is unlikely that he will be in a position to visit this country in the immediate future.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Prime Minister aware that, relatively speaking, we have just as many big bankers and business tycoons here who would be willing to give a luncheon to Mr. Mikoyan and just as many attractive actresses who would be pleased to meet him? Is the Prime Minister sure that this man would not come here if he had an invitation? If the Prime Minister cannot go to Moscow, why should he not give an invitation to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Soviet Union to come here?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not exclude the possibility of such a visit, but I do not think that it is possible at the present time.