§ 48. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether, during the official visit of Dr. Adenauer to London, he will ascertain the views of the West German Government on Her Majesty's Government's policy, as laid down in the House on 19th February last, of uniting Germany within a framework agreed and guaranteed by the four Powers, including free elections at some stage but not necessarily at the outset, and of consulting Germans from both parts of Germany on methods of uniting the country.
§ 50. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the policy of insistence on free elections throughout Germany and maintenance of the status quo of Berlin has been vitiated by the lapse of time, developments in both sections of Germany, and the need for Four-Power agreement and whether, in his forthcoming discussions with Dr. Adenauer, he will seek to evolve more elastic and realistic procedures for re-uniting Germany.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
1346 The conversations between my right hon. Friend and the German Chancellor were confidential. I therefore cannot say what subjects were or were not discussed. But I cannot accept all the implications of the hon. Gentleman's Questions.
§ Mr. ZilliacusWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the Government stand by the policy laid down on 19th February by the Minister of State and summarised in Question No. 49?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Government's views generally on unification were submitted in the peace plan presented at the Geneva Conference in May, printed as Command Paper 797.
§ Mr. GaitskellDoes the Prime Minister intend to make a statement on his talks with Dr. Adenauer?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot give a definite reply at the moment. I was hoping to get in touch with my right hon. Friend, but he has been seeing Dr. Adenauer off. All I can do is to convey to my right hon. Friend the right hon. Gentleman's question.