HC Deb 30 January 1961 vol 633 cc593-5
41. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the recent British-Soviet negotiations on cultural exchanges.

26. Mr. Wade

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in the negotiations with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the cessation of jamming of overseas broadcasts from Britain.

Mr. Ormsby Gore

A delegation led by my honourable Friend the Joint Under-Secretary visited Moscow recently to review progress in the cultural field and conclude a new Agreement to replace the 1959 Anglo-Soviet Cultural Agreement which expires at the end of March. The new Agreement provides for further exchanges in the scientific, technological, educational and cultural fields. It is similar in scope to, though slightly wider in scale than, the current Agreement but covers a two-year instead of a one-year period. The text is being printed and will be laid before the House as soon as possible, I hope this week.

In discussion it was made clear to the Soviet side that Her Majesty's Government regard these exchange programmes merely as a beginning, and that they look forward to the day when the Soviet Government will allow unfettered contacts and will no longer try to prevent their people from choosing for themselves what they wish to read about us in our books and newspapers.

The question of jamming was discussed at length with the Soviet authorities during these negotiations, but I regret to say no positive results were achieved.

During the course of the negotiations, the Soviet authorities signified their agreement to the publication of a British quarterly magazine in the Soviet Union, and a separate agreement on this has now been concluded.

Mr. Mayhew

While these agreements have been shown to be valuable, has not the assumption always been that they would lead to the establishment of normal free communications between Britain and the Soviet Union? Is the Minister aware that during the last year or two progress in this direction has been extremely disappointing? Will he make it clear to the Soviet authorities that merely to sign these agreements year after year is not enough and we expect progress towards free communications between the two countries?

Mr. Ormsby Gore

I think I can agree with every single word that the hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Was it under these agreements that the Old Vic gave successful performances in Moscow, the members of the company being handed bouquets from the audience? Would it not be a great event if the Foreign Secretary or other Ministers were to receive bouquets from a Russian audience?

Mr. Ormsby Gore

It would, of course, be very agreeable. The Old Vic, in fact, was sent there under the last agreement.

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