HC Deb 09 March 1959 vol 601 c868
22. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to accept the Governments of Poland and Czechoslovakia as participants in a conference on Germany and European security.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

This proposal, which is made in the Soviet Note of 2nd March, is now being considered in consultation with our Allies.

Mr. Healey

Quite apart from the fact that the Governments of Poland and Czechoslovakia have as direct and immediate interest in the German security problem as we ourselves have, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there will be great advantage to the West in giving the Soviet Union also some of the problems of coalition diplomacy?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The hon. Gentleman has set out some of the advantages. There are, of course, certain disadvantages in widening a conference of this kind beyond the four Powers immediately concerned, but we are studying it with our Allies.