§ Q7. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the advice given by Her Majesty's Government which led to the cancellation of a visit to Paris on 9th March by a Member of the Council of State.
§ Q10. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the advice he tendered to a Counsellor of State to cancel her proposed visit to France.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer hon. Members to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. C. Pannell) on 12th February.
§ Mr. RankinDoes the Prime Minister recall that on Monday he told us that this visit was mainly an unofficial one? Does he now realise that, as a result of his intervention, it has become mainly an official one? Is he aware that it is widely believed that he terminated the visit because he was determined to use the Princess as an instrument in his political feud with President de Gaulle? Does he think that good for either the country or his own standing?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Gentlman will read what I said in that debate he will find that he has quite misrepresented it. I said that at this moment certain aspects of the visit would naturally take on a semi-official character, but whether this was a. right or a wrong judgment, it was certainly not made for the motives the hon. Gentleman has attributed to me.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesNow that the right hon. Gentleman has had an opportunity for reflection, would he not agree that his original decision was somewhat impetuous and precipitate? Is he aware that President de Gaulle has been far more generous, in that he allowed the "Mona Lisa" to go to America? Does he not think that he could forestall President de Gaulle diplomatically by switching this Counsellor-of-State visit over to Moscow?
§ The Prime MinisterI will consider that.