HC Deb 29 June 1960 vol 625 cc1361-2
13. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will protest to the Government of the United States of America about the anti-British contents of Mr. Reuther's message at the official opening of Solidarity House, Nairobi, by the Governor of Kenya.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir. Mr. Reuther is an independent trade union official. I have no reason to think that the United States Government would accept any responsibility for whatever views he expresses.

Mr. Wall

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that it would be better if Mr. Reuther confined his remarks on colonial matters to places of which he might have a special knowledge, such as Okinawa or Panama, or even some States in South America?

Mr. Lloyd

I agree with my hon. Friend. I do not think that Mr. Reuther's remarks were happy.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his reply will be welcomed by most reasonable people, because people in this country want to reserve the right to criticise the policies of the United States and also because Mr. Reuther's speech was full of very good common sense?

Mr. Lloyd

There was a fair number of very unfortunate remarks interspersed in it.