HC Deb 17 February 1960 vol 617 c1270
20. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Austrian Foreign Secretary.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I have nothing to add to the Communiqué issued on 9th February, the text of which I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and to what I said in the debate last week about Dr. Kreisky's visit.

Mr. Warbey

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether the subject of South Tyrol was discussed and whether he was able to assure the Austrian Foreign Secretary that he supports the view that the Italian Government are under treaty obligation to provide genuine autonomy to South Tyrol?

Mr. Lloyd

Dr. Kreisky did explain the point of view of the Austrian Government on this question. Our view is that it is a matter much better settled by bilateral discussion between the Austrian and Italian Governments.

Following is the Communiqué: In the course of their visit to London the Austrian Foreign Minister, Dr. Bruno Kreisky, and Professor Gschnitzer, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have had a number of meetings with the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Selwyn Lloyd; the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Heathcoat Amory; and the President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Maudling. They had intimate discussions on the major international problems of the day, with special reference to East-West relations and disarmament. They also examined questions of particular interest to their Governments. Special consideration was paid to the political and economic problems of Europe. The Ministers reaffirmed their determination, as expressed in the Convention setting up the E.F.T.A., to work for the early establishment of a multilateral association and removal of trade harriers between all the members of the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation. Ministers also reviewed Anglo-Austrian relations. They welcomed the notable progress made towards the final settlement of claims arising out of the Vienna Memorandum of 1955. The Ministers agreed to increase co-operation between Austria and the United Kingdom in all fields and to bring relations between the two countries into line with their new association in E.F.T.A. They decided to set up a Continuing Committee under the Chairmanship of the two Foreign Ministers to initiate and co-ordinate measures for this purpose. The Committee will meet alternatively in London and Vienna. Dr. Kreisky, in the name of the Austrian Government, has invited Mr. Selwyn Lloyd to visit Austria towards the middle of the year. Mr. Lloyd has accepted the invitation with pleasure.