HC Deb 17 May 1960 vol 623 cc1102-3
Mr. Grimond (by Private Notice)

asked the Prime Minister if he has any information to give the House on the Four-Power Meeting in Paris, and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

The four Heads of Government met in Paris yesterday morning. Mr. Khrushchev began by making a long statement about the case of the U2 aircraft, to which the President of the United States and my right hon. Friend replied. All these statements have since been made public. The conference then adjourned without having begun its work.

Subsequently, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister held private conversations with the French, American and Soviet leaders in order to explore the possibilities of getting the conference started. The three Western leaders met again this morning.

My right hon. Friend and his colleagues are still continuing their efforts to carry on with the work of the conference. In pursuance of this, President de Gaulle invited the other Heads of Government to a meeting at 3 p.m. this afternoon.

President Eisenhower and my right hon. Friend both accepted. No official reply has been received from Mr. Khrushchev, but I am informed that at the moment I am now speaking he has not attended the meeting. The situation is, therefore, uncertain.

Mr. Grimond

Is the Home Secretary aware that there will be widespread support for the Western effort to have a useful conference in Paris, but that if— as we all hope will not be the case—it should prove impossible, owing to the change in the Russian attitude, will Her Majesty's Government continue their efforts to reach agreement on the permanent cessation of tests of nuclear weapons?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. I think that I can reply in the affirmative and say that it will certainly be our wish to make progress in disarmament I hope that the House will understand that it is difficult for me to make any further comment on the position at the moment.

Mr. Gaitskell

As the right hon. Gentleman says, it is clear that he cannot tell us anything new at this stage. But is he aware that the whole House would regard it as deplorable if the U2 incident were allowed to stop the Summit Conference and a discussion of the vital issues which we wish to have discussed there?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. Hon. Members will have seen Mr. Khrushchev's statement and President Eisenhower's reply. In the light of President Eisenhower's assurance about flights over Soviet territory, in the view of Her Majesty's Government there is no threat in being to prevent the Conference getting down to business. We very much hope that Mr. Khrushchev will see things in this light.