§ 40. Mr. Donnellyasked the Prime Minister whether he will now propose an early meeting of the Heads of Governments of the United Kingdom, France, Western Germany and the United States of America to consider the international situation and to co-ordinate Western policies.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)While I doubt whether such a meeting would be timely at present, I entirely agree with the hon. Member on the need for a co-ordinated Western assessment of the international situation and the working out of future Western policy. Consultations to this end are already taking place in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and elsewhere.
§ Mr. DonnellyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the collapse of his Summit policy the ideas—and their value —emanating from the head of the British Government have been noticeable by their absence? Can the right hon. Gentleman say what positive steps the British Government are taking more than just the normal routine negotiations?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not see why the hon. Gentleman should be rude to me. I am not a member of his Party.
§ Mr. HealeyAs, contrary to what the Prime Minister told the House in error last week, there are now no current agreed proposals by the Western Powers on disarmament, can the right hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taker to produce an agreed Western policy on this subject? Can he, in particular, assure the House that he will support the French position about controlling the means of delivery of nuclear weapons?
§ The Prime MinisterThe question of disarmament and the best next step to take are now being discussed between the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister really satisfied that the arrangements for consultation through the N.A.T.O. Council are adequate? Is he aware that considerable concern has been created by the report that the United States Government have offered the missile Polaris to Germany? Were Her Majesty's Government consulted before that offer was made? Is there not a strong case for some new and high-level piece of machinery so that decisions of this kind are taken by members of the alliance not independently but jointly?
§ The Prime MinisterThe consultations in N.A.T.O. go on all the time, of course. The original Question was whether I would now arrange a meeting of the Heads of Governments of the United Kingdom, France, Western Germany and the United States of America. I should have thought that reflection would have shown that this was not a very suitable moment for me to try to organise a meeting of the President of the United States and the other two Heads of Governments concerned.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that at this juncture in international affairs it is far more necessary that our policy should be right than that it should be agreed with other people?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a reflection involving a lot of moral problems to which I should like to give further thought, but, on the face of it, I think there is a good deal to be said for the hon. Gentleman's view.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Prime Minister say what the Government's view is with regard to the proposal by the United States that the missile Polaris should be given to the West German Government? Is not this the kind of matter which should be discussed with the Western allies?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Gentleman will table a Question about Polaris, I will try to answer it.