§ 42. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish a Command Pa per particularising the measures taken by the parties to the Treaty of Rome since the signing thereof in implementation of those Articles which provide for measures to be taken or proposals to be made in the context of the creation of common organisations, insti- 638 tutions, and constitutional machinery, together with an assessment of the modifications which would be entailed in the national organisations, institutions, and constitutional machinery of the United Kingdom by adherence to the Treaty.
§ The Prime MinisterThe information called for in the first part of my right hon. and learned Friend's Question, if it is to be authoritative, can only be provided by the authorities of the European Economic Community themselves. I am quite willing to see if it can be obtained I have, however, explained the difficulties inherent in producing a White Paper in reply to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Monslow) on 13th June.
§ Sir D. Walker-SmithDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that the White Paper referred to by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Monslow) was not on precisely the same lines as that for which I am here asking? Will he be good enough, therefore, to ask the European Economic Community to supply the information to provide the first part of this Command Paper? Will he also be good enough to answer the second part of the Question, about the assessment of the modifications required in out constitutional machinery if we were to adhere to the Treaty of Rome?
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the first part, I repeat that if I can obtain the information I will. Of course, it is somewhat delicate; it is partly in negotiation now going on in that Community. If I can find a convenient method of doing the second part, I will consider it and see what can be done.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware that the suggestion of his right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) is a very good example of the kind of information which I ventured to suggest the other day should be made available to the House? Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to look at the whole question so that he may try to present to the country a much clearer picture of what the real facts and issues are in this whole very tangled subject?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Of course I would do that, but I again 639 repeat the warning which I thought it right to give. I do not regard these positions as absolutely static; they may be fluid. It would be a mistake, I think, to tie ourselves, should we decide to enter negotiations, by too rigid a view beforehand.
§ Mr. GrimondI think that the Prime Minister referred to negotiations going on. I believe that was the phrase he used.
§ The Prime MinisterI meant negotiations among the countries of the Treaty of Rome on their own affairs.
§ Mr. GrimondI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for clearing that up. But does that prevent the information asked for in the Question being provided, not necessarily at once but when the negotiations are finished?
§ The Prime MinisterI was pointing out that the first part of what was asked for was something which was not within our power to provide except by the good will and courtesy of the powers signatory to the Treaty of Rome. We are asking what measures they are taking, and so on, and we have to find out information about matters which are now in process of negotiation or development between them. That is what I meant.
§ Mr. HoltWill the Prime Minister reconsider his attitude in this matter? He saw in the House the other day the emotions and prejudices now being raised by this matter largely due to ignorance. Would not he agree that it is high time that the Government at least indicated those parts of the Rome Treaty which really offer no difficulties at all and which they can support, and provided the House with a great many more facts than it has at the moment?
§ The Prime MinisterI will, of course, consider any way in which I can help the House, but we have to be very careful. A factual White Paper might be produced, but it is all in the Treaty of Rome for those who study it. I do not want to mix up that with advice on balancing between very difficult problems at this stage. I think I made it clear on Tuesday. I think there was general acceptance that the procedure that we were adopting, regarding the Commonwealth in particular, was a wise one at this stage.
§ Mr. GaitskellI think we all understand the difficulty of putting into words the Government's policy at the present time—because, anyway, nobody knows what it is—but we are not asking for that. Does not the Prime Minister appreciate that at this stage there is much to be said for posing and answering factual questions so that we can have a much clearer basis on which to make up our minds? Is he aware that this can be done, or at any rate a great deal of it can be done, without in any way prejudicing any negotiations that may take place?
§ The Prime MinisterI will look at that again, but I am bound to say that if I should have to enter these negotiations I do not believe it is right to put every card on the table before one starts them.