HC Deb 31 May 1962 vol 660 cc1585-7
Q6. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Prime Minister whether he will put forward in his conversations with President de Gaulle the need for negotiating an agreement on international guarantees for the independence of West Berlin and freedom of access to it, and for thede jurerecognition of the existing Polish frontier with Germany.

The Prime Minister

I cannot give an undertaking to put forward any particular propositions in my talks with President de Gaulle.

Mr. Zilliacus

Could the Prime Minister at any rate make it clear that Her Majesty's Government will not be deterred from entering into negotiations by the refusal of France and Germany to start negotiations or to adopt a give-and-take attitude? Will he further make it clear that in no circumstances shall we be committed to war by allies who have not come to terms with us on how to make peace?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. The hon. Gentleman's deduction is quite false. As I understand it, certain explanatory soundings are being conducted between the American and Soviet Governments. It is true that the French Government were somewhat sceptical as to whether these would lead to practical results. But they have not opposed them. Nor have they been opposed by the German Government.

Dr. King

Since the Polish border cannot be changed except by a third world war, and since a third world war is unthinkable, is it not time that the Western Allies told West Germany that she could make a great contribution to the pacification of Europe by declaring that she has no further territorial interests in changing the Oder-Neisse line?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. I agree with the hon. Gentleman if he means that change by force is unthinkable. While a declaration of the nature he suggests might be a useful addition to any wider agreement, I do not think that it would be of any great value to make it without regard to a wider agreement.

Q7. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from President de Gaulle regarding British support for French foreign policy, or the making available to the French Government of information on how to make nuclear weapons, as a pre-condition for French support for Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and what explanation of Her Majesty's Government's policy in this regard he made in reply.

The Prime Minister

None, Sir.

Mr. Zilliacus

Has not the Prime Minister's attention been drawn to the repeated public declarations that it is President de Gaulle's intention to make the increase in nuclear knowledge and support for French foreign policy a condition of France's allowing Britain to enter the Common Market? Will he make it clear that in no circumstances will Her Majesty's Government be a party to any such bargain?

The Prime Minister

I have not seen any such statement on behalf of the French Government, and I doubt very much the accuracy of such a statement. The two matters are not connected. The hon. Gentleman knows— I reminded the House the other day— the terms on which British nuclear information has been obtained from the American Government.

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